Myopia Management: Protecting Vision for the Future
As the myopia epidemic continues to rise, especially among children, finding effective ways to manage and slow its progression has never been more important. At our eye clinics in Long Grove and Glenview, we specialize in advanced myopia management techniques that help reduce the impact of progressive myopia on your or your child’s vision.
Our goal is to provide solutions that preserve long-term eye health and reduce the need for stronger myopia glasses prescriptions over time.
What is Myopia Management?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a prevalent vision condition that causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects remain clear. This occurs when the eye grows too long or the cornea becomes too curved, resulting in light focusing in front of the retina rather than directly on it. Myopia management aims to slow or control the progression of myopia, especially in children, whose developing eyes are at greater risk for rapidly worsening nearsightedness. This approach combines various methods, such as specially designed eyeglasses, contact lenses, and low-dose atropine eye drops, all tailored to reduce the rate at which myopia progresses over time.
If left untreated, myopia often continues to worsen, increasing the risk of more severe visual impairment and heightening the likelihood of developing serious eye conditions later in life. Advanced myopia is linked to a higher risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts, all of which can lead to vision loss and require complex treatments. By managing myopia proactively, we help preserve long-term eye health, reduce the risk of future complications, and improve quality of life.
How to Stop Myopia from Getting Worse
Our myopia management program offers a variety of treatment options designed to slow the progression of myopia and protect your vision. These include:
- Orthokeratology (Ortho K) Lenses: These are custom-fitted, rigid lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea. Upon waking, you can enjoy clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses.
- Atropine Eye Drops for Kids: Low-dose atropine drops relax the eye's focusing mechanism and reduce eye strain, which plays a role in myopia progression.
- Myopia Glasses Prescription & Multifocal Contact Lenses: These lenses provide different focus zones to help control how the eye grows, making them a comfortable and practical option for children.
- Lifestyle Changes: Encouraging children to spend more time outdoors, limiting screen time, and ensuring they take regular breaks from close-up tasks can reduce eye strain and contribute to better long-term eye health.
Why Choose Our Myopia Management Program?
As parents, you naturally want the best for your child’s health and future, and their vision is crucial. Myopia is more than just a vision problem—it can significantly affect a child’s academic performance, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. Our myopia management program atForsight Vision Care gives your child the best chance for better vision today and in the future. For more information on myopia and its management, Forsight's affiliated partner, Hoot Myopia Management, offers resources and treatment options to help patients learn more about this condition and available solutions.