Myopia
Management
Myopia Control in Austin, Texas
Our doctors provide myopia management services for children in Austin to help slow down the progression of myopia, also known as nearsightedness.
If you have myopia, the eye is longer than normal from front to back, or the cornea (the clear window at the front of the eye) is too steeply curved, and this makes faraway objects appear blurry.
Myopia is very common, with up to 40% of adults in the United States requiring some form of vision correction. It typically begins during childhood while the eyes are growing and developing and can worsen throughout adolescence and young adulthood. Unfortunately, myopia is associated with an increase in vision-threatening eye diseases later in life, such as retinal detachments, cataracts, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration later in life, and the higher the level of myopia, the greater the risk.
What are the symptoms of myopia?
Some common symptoms of myopia include:
- Blurry vision when looking at faraway objects
- The need to squint to see objects clearly
- Eye strain
- Experiencing headaches caused by straining your eyes
Myopia can also affect children in their daily lives, including academic performance, sporting activities, social interactions, independence, and self-esteem.
What are the treatment options for myopia?
We provide pediatric eye exams to regularly screen for myopia. The earlier it’s caught, the better the chance we can create a myopia management plan that can help your child avoid significant eye health issues later in life.
We also offer treatment options to slow the progression of myopia.
Cooper MiSight® 1-day soft contact lenses
We are proud to offer a safe and proven myopia management treatment utilizing special contact lenses called MiSight® 1-day soft contact lenses.
Our doctors are certified providers of this treatment, which is the first and only soft contact lens FDA-approved to slow the progression of myopia in children aged 8-12 at the start of treatment. These lenses have been tested over a long period and have met all the safety requirements established by the FDA. Kids ages 8-12 wearing MiSight® 1-day contact lenses experienced an average of 59 percent reduction of myopia progression when used over three years.
Low-dose medicated eye drops
Another option for slowing the progression of myopia is low-dose medicated eye drops. When given to children in small amounts for 2 to 3 years, the drops may keep the eye from lengthening too much. Myopia worsens as the eye grows longer. The drops are placed in the eye each night at bedtime. Side effects of these drops at low doses may include redness or itchiness around the eye.
Schedule an appointment for a pediatric eye exam
The first step to managing myopia is to schedule an appointment at Northwest Hills Eye Care for a pediatric eye exam. Our optometrists will perform various tests to check your child’s eyes, determine overall eye health, and screen for myopia. If myopia is discovered, your doctor will guide you through the proper treatment plan to correct it and prevent further progression. We’re here to help you every step of the way!