Myopia Control
High myopia is linked to an increased risk of eye complications including retinal detachments, myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts. In order to help avoid these complications and preserve vision, we need to slow eye growth through myopia control. At EYECARE for you, we offer multiple myopia control options including:
- Orthokeratology (ortho-k)
- MiSight
- NaturalVue
- Atropine therapy
Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology, aka Ortho-K, involves the use of gas-permeable lenses that are inserted at bedtime and worn overnight.While you sleep, the lenses gently reshape the front surface of your eye (the cornea) to correct your vision, so you can see clearly without glasses or contact lenses when you’re awake. The effect is temporary - generally enough to get you through a day or two - so you must wear the reshaping lenses each night to maintain good vision during the day. We use custom imaging and WAVE technology to deliver re-shaping via the Vision Shaping Treatment (VST). These are FDA approved lenses.
Who is a candidate for ortho-k?
Orthokeratology is ideal for patients who have a worsening myopic prescription since it helps to slow and sometimes stop worsening vision altogether. It is frequently a good option for nearsighted individuals who are too young for LASIK surgery or for some other reason are not good candidates for vision correction surgery. Because it can be discontinued at any time without permanent change to the eye, people of any age can try the procedure if their eyes are healthy. Ortho-k is particularly appealing for people who participate in sports or who work in dusty or dirty environments that can make wearing contact lenses difficult.
What results can you expect from ortho-k?
What results can you expect from ortho-k? The goal for ortho-k is to correct your vision to 20/20 without eyeglasses or contact lenses during the day. In FDA trials, patients using overnight VST lenses saw a significant reduction in worsening vision in more than 65% of cases. The patients were also able to achieve 20/20 visual acuity after wearing the reshaping lenses overnight. More than 90% were able to see 20/40 or better (the legal vision requirement for driving without glasses in most states). Success rates for ortho-k tend to be higher for milder prescriptions. Since we only use custom VST lenses at EYECARE for You, our results are better than national averages.
How long does ortho-k take to work?
Though you may see some improvement in your vision after a day or two of overnight ortho-k, it can take several weeks for the full effect to be apparent. During this time, your vision will not be as clear as it was with glasses or contacts, and you are likely to notice some glare and halos around lights. It’s possible you may need a temporary pair of eyeglasses for certain tasks, like driving at night, until your vision is fully corrected by the ortho-k lenses.
Is ortho-k comfortable?
Some people have comfort issues when attempting to wear gas permeable contact lenses during the day. Since ortho-k GP lenses are worn during sleep, comfort and lens awareness are generally not a problem.
Can I have LASIK after ortho-k?
Yes, it’s possible to have LASIK surgery after orthokeratology. But because ortho-k lenses reshape your cornea, you must stop wearing the lenses for a period of time (usually several months) so your eyes can return to their original shape and stabilize. Be sure to tell your LASIK surgeon that you’ve worn ortho-k lenses, so they can advise you how long you should wait before having surgery.
MiSight
MiSight contacts are daily disposable dual-focus soft contact lenses that refocus light rays to help slow the lengthening of the eye and worsening of myopia. “By including both vision correction and treatment zones in the lens, it simultaneously corrects your child’s vision today, while signaling the eye to resist getting longer, with the goal of preserving vision for the future.” (Coopervision)
Who is a candidate?
MiSight is ideal for patients who have a worsening prescription since it helps to slow progression of myopia. Children must be able to safely handle contact lenses. The ideal candidate has a prescription between -0.50 D and -7.00 D of myopia with less than 1.00 D of astigmatism.
How often do the MiSight lenses need to be worn?
MiSight lenses need to be worn for at least 10 hours a day for at least six days a week. Children will usually remain in the MiSight lenses throughout their growing years. Is MiSight FDA approved for myopia control? MiSight is the first and only FDA-approved soft contact lens proven to slow the progression of myopia (nearsightedness) in children (aged 8-12 at the initiation of treatment) by 59% on average.
MiSight clinical trial results
The MiSight clinical trial was conducted over a period of 6 years. Children in the study were 8-12 years old at initiation of treatment.
- The rate of myopia progression was reduced by 59% on average
- Axial elongation slowed by 52% on average
- 41% of eyes had no progression
- There was less than 1.00 D of myopia progression on average over 6 years
- No rebound myopia was seen 12 months after MiSight cessation
NaturalVue
How do NaturalVue contact lenses slow myopia progression?
NaturalVue lenses work similarly to MiSight. They are daytime only daily disposable multifocal contact lenses that can be used if Orthokeratology is contraindicated. These lenses are not FDA approved for myopia control and are not proven as effective as ortho-k or MiSight. However, they still slow myopia progression and may be more comfortable than MiSight lenses. The best results occur when patients wear the lenses every day.
Atropine
What is low concentration atropine?
Low concentration atropine is a low dose dilation eye drop used off-label for myopia control. Typical dosage ranges from 0.01% to 0.1%. Because myopia in children has been linked to focusing fatigue and eye strain, atropine is used as a form of myopia control to relax the eye’s focusing system and slow myopia progression. 1 drop of atropine is instilled in each eye at bedtime. The drops do not change the prescription, so glasses or contacts will still be needed to see clearly.
Who is a candidate for atropine?
Atropine is not as effective as other forms of myopia control, but is a good option for those who cannot wear contact lenses. Atropine can also be added to other myopia control treatments to increase effectiveness.
What are the side effects of atropine use?
Atropine has a very low risk of side effects and is safe for use in children. Side effects may include light sensitivity and blurry vision up close. However, these side effects are usually minimal due to the low dose that is used. Rarely, an allergy can occur
Book Your Appointment Today!
Has your child’s vision continued to worsen? Book an appointment with our optometrists so we can recommend the best option to help slow their worsening nearsightedness and preserve their vision.
