About Myopia Management

Unfortunately, nearsightedness is not an uncommon optic problem. More and more people are having difficulty reading road signs and clearly seeing faraway objects. Symptoms of myopia include eye strain, headaches, squinting, or even feeling fatigued while driving. What causes myopia? Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question. Both genetics and environmental factors play a part in the development of myopia. Because of this, there is no one solution to the condition. The good news, though, is that there are strategies available to slow down the progression of myopia.

How can you manage myopia?

Innovations in the optic field have allowed individuals to live their daily lives more comfortably with myopia and other eye problems. There are a variety of solutions available for addressing the issue of myopia.

• OCT Technology. We use Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technology in our exams for a more in depth analysis of eye health.
• We take axial length measurements with our myopia management, this being the only true way to measure the progression of myopia. Our axial length measurements are taken with an IOL master, top of the line technology for these types of measurements.
• Multi-focal soft contact lenses. There is a lot of research regarding these lenses. These specialty myopia control contact lenses offer a better therapeutic effect than specialty spectacle lenses while providing the convenience of being “glasses-free.
• Atropine therapy. Low-dose atropine drop therapy has been shown to be quite effective in the slowing of myopia progression. The mechanism by which it works is still being studied, but upon stopping the therapy, there has not been any significant rebound effect noted when using low doses of atropine.
• Spectacle therapy with specialty lenses. We are moving away from the concept of putting children into multi-focal spectacle lenses in most cases and moving towards “myopia control spectacle lenses.” These lenses provide clear vision with single vision lenses, but with the therapeutic effects of peripheral defocus, which aids in the slowing of myopia.
• Corneal reshaping with hard contacts. Also called orthokeratology, this method involves wearing gas permeable contact lenses to temporarily alter the structure of the corneal surface.
• Lifestyle changes. A recent study showed that children who had increased their participation in outside activities exhibited a reduction in myopia progression compared to their less active peers. Another study found that there is a protective effect from greater amounts of exposure to outdoor lighting.

Most commonly, myopia can be controlled through the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses. Every individual has a varied degree of nearsightedness that affects them differently. Your optometrist may even recommend investing in specialized lenses, depending on the extent of myopia. If you believe you are experiencing any symptoms, contact your Falcon Vision Centre optometrist today to schedule an eye exam. They may say you need a stronger prescription if you are already using eyeglasses or contacts.