Myopia, or nearsightedness, is the inability to see objects in the distance. This condition is one of the most common vision complaints our office sees in children. Most often, children start to notice that their vision isn't right when they can't see the board in the classroom. Fortunately, if your child has myopia, there are treatments and myopia control methods available. Traditionally, when a child was diagnosed with myopia, they were fitted for glasses. While this is still an option, it does not prevent the child from becoming more nearsighted in the future. We have treatment options that allow us to slow down or stop the progression of this condition. We at Vision Solutions Optometry in La Mesa, CA, near San Diego, know a lot about myopia control for children. We have been recommending myopia control treatments for the past 20 years.

Myopia Diagnosis

At our optometry practice, all children have their vision checked for a glasses prescription, and they have the length of their eyeball measured by an Aladdin-M machine. In myopia, the length of the eyeball elongates at an accelerated rate over time, and eventually, the myopia power increases and vision becomes more blurry. The machine will scan your child's eye and give us valuable information to help Dr. Peters form an effective treatment plan for your child.

As a child grows and the length of the eyeball changes, more myopia will develop over time. Having a myopic parent increases this risk. Excessive screen time and minimal outdoor time are also risk factors. Years ago, we just accepted this as something that was unavoidable. Unfortunately, we know that becoming myopic is not just a vision condition but a medical problem that can result in increased risk of eye disease, including glaucoma, macular problems, or retinal detachments. To prevent this risk, we can initiate treatment to stop or slow down the elongation of the eyeball.

Eye Drops

An eye drop called Atropine is one of the treatments administered to slow down myopia progression. Most children have very little trouble adjusting to the drops, which are usually taken right before they go to bed. They help to stop elongation of the eyeball and keep the prescription needed for clear vision stable over time.  While they cannot reverse the condition, these drops have been successfully used by many of our patients. There are several other recommendations to slow down the progression of myopia, including overnight orthokeratology, daily myopia prevention contact lenses, or a combination of one of these options in conjunction with Atropine drops.

Dr. Peters will discuss all of these options and recommend the best treatment for your child.

Contact Us for More Information from Our Pediatric Eye Doctor, Dr. Peters

If your child is having trouble seeing, and you live in the San Diego area, call Dr. Peters at Vision Solutions Optometry in La Mesa, CA, near San Diego. Our optometry office can schedule an exam and get your child screened for myopia progression. Call us at (619) 461-4913.