Myopia Control
Serving Blackfoot, ID
Methods of Myopia Control
There are a few different options in terms of myopia control, each with its own merits and benefits. When we talk about myopia control with you and your child, we’ll take the time to explain all your options. It’s important to us that both you and your child are comfortable with and confident in the method of myopia control we choose to pursue. We’re happy to talk about it with you for as long as you need us to.
Treatment for Myopia
Orthokeratology (or ortho-k) uses contact lenses to temporarily change the structure of the eye. Your child will put their rigid gas permeable ortho-k contact lenses in every night before they go to bed. As they sleep, this gentle vision shaping system delicately reshapes the cornea. Learn more about eye care services.
In the morning, your child will remove the lenses, and enjoy clear vision without glasses for the rest of the day. Throughout the day, your child’s cornea will slowly go back to its natural shape, meaning the treatment is totally reversible and won’t hinder any future treatments.
Because eye strain tends to make myopia worse, atropine aims to reduce instances of eye strain. These drops relax and paralyze the focusing muscles around the eye, keeping your eyes from working too hard while they try to focus. Atropine drops have been used for years and are one of the oldest methods of myopia control available.
Much like multifocal glasses, multifocal contacts are designed with different levels of magnification in different areas of the lens. These lenses are effective as a means of myopia control because they allow a child to see clearly at all distances rather than magnifying distant objects while simultaneously making close objects more difficult to see. This goes a long way towards eliminating strain which contributes to the progression of myopia.