Myopia Control in Bellingham WA

What is Myopia?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is an eye disease where light focuses in front of the light sensitive cells of the retina, rather than on them. This causes blurry distance vision.

As children grow, their eyeballs naturally become larger and longer. If their eyeballs become too long, they become nearsighted, or myopic.

Why Does Myopia Matter?

As an eyeball grows larger and longer, not only does it become myopic; its tissues get thinner and more stretched out. This stretching and thinning can cause many serious eye diseases later in life, including glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment, and myopic maculopathy to name a few.

Continued eyeball growth also creates the need for stronger and stronger glasses, affects performance in school and sports, affects social development, and limits children from having refractive surgery when they grow up.

Myopia usually starts in early childhood and continues to worsen until a person’s early twenties. Studies have shown that there is no level of myopia that could be considered “safe” in comparison to those who are not myopic.

Can My Child Just Wear Glasses?

Research has shown that if myopic children merely wear normal glasses or contact lenses, their already larger eyes will continue to grow. We now know that continued growth greatly increases the risk for many serious and debilitating eye diseases later in life.

Experts agree that myopia management should be implemented for all at-risk children, and typically continue into their late teens or early twenties.

Can We Wait Until My Child is Older?

Myopia progresses fastest in young children, especially those under the age of ten. This means that the most important time to slow down eyeball growth is when children are younger.

Myopia Management aims to apply specific treatments to slow down the growth of the eye. Experts recommend that myopia management should be commenced as soon as possible for all at-risk children.

What is Myopia Management?

The good news is that thanks to recent advances in modern medicine, we now know that we can safely reduce the growth rate of an eyeball and control its progression of myopia!

Myopia Management is the only long-term treatment protocol proven to slow the growth of the eye. It is cutting edge, preventative medicine. By reducing the growth and stretching of an eye, we can greatly reduce a child's risk of developing debilitating eye diseases later in life.

No two children are the same, and no Myopia Management protocol is one size fits all. Fortunately, Myopia Management encompases multiple treatment options. Some work better for some children, while others work better for others. Each method has its own pros and cons, but are all shown to reduce the growth rate of the eye by at least 50%.

Eye Drops

Low-concentration atropine eye drops are a safe, easy, and effective method for slowing the progression of myopia. Used only at night, they are easy to control, and are a great option for kids too young for contact lenses.

Daytime Contacts

Daytime contacts can be used by kids as young as four years old. In fact, studies show that kids who wear contact lenses are actually safer and have less problems than adults who wear contact lenses!

Myopia Management daytime contact lenses correct vision, as well as cue the eyes to stop growing. They are a great option for kids who play sports or who have active lifestyles.

Nighttime Contacts

Nighttime contacts are custom made for your child’s eyes. They safely, gently, and temporarily reshape the front of their eyes. Best of all, they allow freedom from both glasses and contacts during the day.

These lenses are only worn at home, so there is low risk of them being broken or lost during wear. Kids who are not comfortable wearing glasses or contact lenses to school, kids who go swimming often, and kids who have generally active lifestyles tend to enjoy nighttime contact lenses.

Outdoor time

Spending time outside can protect against developing myopia! Studies show that at least two hours of time outside per day reduces the onset of nearsightedness in children. Plus, spending time outside is good for the whole body!