Many children have a vision prescription for myopia. Nearsightedness is highly common in children, and they need their eye exam with an optometrist every year to monitor their vision. The problem with myopia in kids is that it tends to get worse. In adults, their vision prescription is relatively stable. They may have the same vision prescription for many years. However, children with myopia are likely to have a worse prescription as time goes on. One way that this can be remedied is by the use of myopia control methods. There are two main methods that are used to help control the progression of myopia. If your child needs an optometrist for myopia control, call us at our Mckinney, TX, office for an appointment. We at DeNovo Eye are here to help.
Eye Drops
One of the main methods of myopia control for kids is to have them take eye drops. These eye drops have atropine in them. This is the same ingredient that optometrists use to dilate the eyes of many patients. With a different dosage of this medication, myopia progression can be slowed in kids who use it. These drops are given to the child every night and soon become a part of the bedtime routine. When the progression of the child's myopia is slowed or stopped, they won't get as much myopia during childhood as they would without myopia control. This helps protect their vision as they get older and get to adulthood and a stabilized prescription.
Ortho-K Contact Lenses
Ortho-K is a type of contact lens that is used for myopia control. While traditional contacts are worn all day to correct vision, these contacts are worn only at night. When a child wears these contacts and sleeps in them every night, they can help with myopia control. They can slow or stop the progression of myopia for the child. These contacts may come with a learning curve as you practice putting them in and taking them out for your child, but they can do a lot for your child's vision. They also correct the eyes enough every night that the child doesn't need to wear glasses the following day. Many kids might love that they can go without their glasses and still see clearly. This effect is only temporary, though. If the child stops wearing the ortho-K contacts, they will have to wear glasses again.
Visit the Optometrist
If you are interested in your child getting a myopia control method, call our Mckinney, TX, office to get an eye exam appointment with an optometrist on our team. Call us at (469) 317-2020 for DeNovo Eye.
