Myopia Management in Falls Church, VA

My Kid’s Got Myopia; What Now?

What Is Myopia?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness or shortsightedness, is the inability to see objects far away. It occurs when the eye grows too long from the front to back and causes the light to focus before it reaches the retina as opposed to directly on it. Myopia is a common vision problem that usually begins development during childhood. Some symptoms of Myopia include headaches, fatigue, squinting, and eyestrain. If you suspect your child may have Myopia, contact us for effective Myopia management in Falls Church, VA.

Myopia Risks

Myopia does not just affect your child’s vision. It may also increase your child’s risk of developing certain eye diseases including retinopathy and Glaucoma.

The influx of such symptoms in recent years is believed to be due to the increased amount of screen time children are exposed to, according to researchers.

If not correctly managed, Myopia will progress and in many cases progress quickly.

Myopia cannot be cured, but early detection, intervention, and treatment can help slow down and in some cases stop the progression of Myopia.

Treatment of Myopia

Typically, glasses and or contact lenses are worn to correct the amount of Myopia a patent has at the time of the exam.

This is a great option for the patient’s current prescription but does not help with the detrition that will occur over the year until the next annual visit.

Our Doctors are proud to offer three alternative options:

• Overnight contact lenses – Custom-made contact lenses that are worn while the child sleeps. During the night the lens is gently reshaping the front surface of the eye so once the lens is removed in the morning the patient is able to see clearly and continue with normal daytime activities. These custom lenses must be worn every night.
• Daytime Soft Contact Lenses – FDA-approved options called MiSight are soft lenses worn during the day much like traditional contact lenses, however, the unique optical design reduces the progression of Myopia when worn within the doctor’s specific guidelines.
• Prescription Eye drops or Atropine Therapy – Customized treatment plan for younger patients who may not be ready for contact lenses. Eye drops are put in the eyes before bedtime. Glasses and/or contact lenses will still be required during the day but the drops at night will be slowing down the progression.

Next Steps

You may still have questions or may not be sure which option will be best for your child.

Only you, the parents, and our board-certified doctors can determine which treatment plan is best for your child. We will work together to get to know your child and their eyes before personalizing a plan.

Fill out the information below and our Myopia Consultant will reach out to you!