Myopia (nearsightedness) rates are increasing around the world, and this trend has many parents understandably concerned about their child’s long-term eye health. While blurry vision can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, the underlying changes to the eyes can continue to progress if left unmonitored. At Coastal Family Eyecare, we offer myopia management in Orange Beach to slow this progression, helping protect children’s vision and reduce future risks.
In this blog, we’ll explore what current myopia research shows, how different treatments work, and why early intervention matters.
The risks of high myopia
Myopia occurs when the eyeball grows too long, causing distant objects to appear blurry. If myopia continues to progress, it can develop into high myopia, which raises the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, including:
Slowing myopia progression during childhood or adolescence is critical to lowering these risks and protecting your child’s eyesight.
Can myopia be cured?
Currently, there is no way to reverse or cure myopia.¹ Experts agree that myopia can’t be fully reversed since the structural changes in the eye are permanent. Glasses and standard contact lenses can help your child see clearly, but they don’t slow the eye’s growth.
Even LASIK and other laser eye surgeries only correct vision—they do not shorten the length of the eyeball or reverse the stretching caused by myopia. This means that while vision may be clear, the associated risks of high myopia remain.
While there is no cure for myopia, proven myopia management techniques can significantly slow its progression. Myopia control is most effective when started early, ideally when myopia is first diagnosed.
Ortho-k for myopia control
Ortho-k offers a safe and effective approach to managing myopia in children and adolescents. Ortho-k involves wearing specially designed rigid contact lenses overnight to gently reshape the cornea. When removed in the morning, vision is temporarily clear without needing glasses or contacts during the day.
It’s important for parents to know that ortho-k does not cure myopia. Children will still need normal glasses or contact lenses if they stop wearing ortho-k lenses. However, ortho-k can slow myopia progression when started at a young age. In a five-year study of children aged 8–12, those wearing ortho-k lenses had almost half the progression of myopia compared to children wearing single-vision glasses.²
The importance of regular eye exams
Regular comprehensive eye exams and pediatric eye exams allow our eye doctor to track changes in your child’s eyes, adjust treatments, and detect early signs of other conditions.
By addressing myopia early with strategies like ortho-k and healthy visual habits, children can:
- Maintain clearer vision for longer
- Reduce dependence on stronger glasses or contacts
- Lower their risk of high myopia-related complications later in life
Are you concerned about your child’s worsening eyesight? Schedule an appointment online today to have their eyes evaluated and start a personalized myopia management plan.
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