Back to school is right around the corner! Increased screen time has been a growing fact for most kids and some studies have shown that kids spend 7 hours a day on an electronic device. More screen use has been directly linked to increases in nearsightedness and large prescription shifts in children.
It is predicted that myopia could affect half of the world’s population by 2050, so the topic of myopia management has become a key focus of our practice. This has led us to implement methods to help slow down the rate of myopia progression in children. We are excited about the positive results we are seeing.
The only FDA-approved soft contact lens that helps with myopia progression is MiSight daily disposable contact lenses. Our office has had great success with these lenses over the years and has clinical data to support the results we have seen. An option that doesn’t involve contact lenses is diluted atropine eye drops that are used once a day before bed. Studies have shown each of these methods can reduce the amount of nearsighted progression by over 50%!
The end goal in myopia progression treatment is to 1) reduce the risk of eye health issues (i.e. glaucoma, retinal detachment, etc.) that can come with increased nearsightedness and 2) keep patients in the prescription range to be a candidate for LASIK or other refractive surgery options in the future. We often counsel parents on lifestyle modifications for their child as well in order to reduce the risks of progressing myopia. Contact us if you would like to schedule a pediatric eye exam and discuss the best option for your child.