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Eye Site - Katy Office

(281) 644-2010

Eye Site - Memorial Office

(713) 984-9144

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Katy: Eye Site - Memorial

Myopia Control

Myopia Control

Myopia is the proper name for nearsightedness, and it is extremely common. Myopia control is the term used to describe methods that reduce the progression of myopia, mainly in children. Here at Eye Site in Katy & Houston, TX, we offer several methods of myopia control for your nearsighted child.

child suffering from myopia

Signs and Diagnosis of Myopia

Some older children with myopia notice that they cannot see as well as they used to. However, many young children do not know that their vision should not be as blurred as it is. For this reason, myopia in children is often diagnosed due to difficulty reading the board, trouble navigating the environment, and other signs that parents, teachers, or other adults notice.

Why Myopia Control?

While adults who are nearsighted may become more nearsighted over time, these changes are often minor. Children, however, tend to become radically more myopic as they grow. This means that a child who is newly diagnosed with myopia will probably need a much stronger prescription by the time they are an adult unless some form of myopia control is used.

People who require strong prescriptions are more reliant on corrective lenses and have more difficulty functioning without them. High-degree myopes are also at a greater risk of many eye issues, such as glaucoma and retinal detachment. Myopia control helps reduce the final degree of myopia that a child will end up with.

Types of Myopia Control

There are a number of ways that professionals of optometry treat myopia. None of these methods are perfect. However, they are known to be useful methods of myopia control for at least some people:

  • Orthokeratology, or ortho-k
  • Multifocal lenses, either contacts or glasses
  • Atropine drops

Orthokeratology involves having the child wear contact lenses at night. This reshapes the eye temporarily and allows them to see during the day, while also slowing the progression of myopia. Ortho-k may reduce the progression of myopia as much as 50 percent.

Multifocal lenses that are worn during the day also appear to help reduce the progression of myopia. These can be either soft contacts or glasses.

Atropine is a medication that reduces the progression of myopia in the short-term, but some concentrations may result in a 'rebound effect', where myopia worsens when the medication is discontinued.

Bring Your Child to an Appointment at Eye Site!

Here at Eye Site in Katy & Houston, TX, we offer treatment for a variety of eye conditions. Our professionals can walk you through the options used in optometry when it comes to myopia control and help you choose the best one for your child. To make an appointment, call (281) 644-2010 (Katy location) or (713) 984-9144 (Memorial location) today!

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you.

KATY OFFICE

Monday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday Closed

Sunday Closed

MEMORIAL, HOUSTON OFFICE

Monday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday Closed

Sunday Closed