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Myopia Care for Children in Virginia

WHAT IS MYOPIA?

Myopia is a common vision error that results from the eye being too long. Commonly known as nearsightedness, myopia causes distant objects to look blurry.  This negatively impacts day-to-day activities.

As myopia usually shows up during childhood and adolescence, early detection and treatment are key to preventing ever-increasing prescriptions or complications down the line. Thanks to our knowledgeable doctors and state-of-the-art equipment, we can help manage myopia in people of all ages.

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Myopia is Increasing

28%
of the world had myopia in 2010
(1.9 billion people)
50%
will have it by 2050
(4.7 billion people)
1 in 3
have myopia in America today.
 
# 2
Cause of permanent blindness worldwide.
 

Vision Impacts
Behavior & Learning

During these years of immense change, behind the scenes evolutions, such as changes in eyesight, are almost near impossible to catch – especially since children don’t even know when they’re experiencing shifts in their vision that can lead to a visual problem.


Often times vision starts to blur weeks after their new glasses are made, yet their vision isn't checked again for a year.

That’s why, when a child exhibits behavioral or learning problems, it’s extremely important to not overlook the possibility of problematic vision issues that can be the root cause of certain behavior concerns.

Because vision affects behavior, attention, learning and processing, weak eyesight can be the culprit of several challenges your child is facing. Take a look at what studies on vision, behavior and learning have revealed:

  • 80% of what we learn is obtained through visual processing of information
  • There’s a 75% chance that a child’s poor learning skills or learning difficulties are caused by vision problems
  • Vision problems affect 1 in 20 preschoolers and 5x as many school-aged children
  • An estimated 10 million children below 10 years of age have vision problems which affect their ability to learn

None of this has to happen.

Our treatments give your child a lifetime of better vision.

Our caring doctors don’t want myopia to affect your child’s eye health or limit their performance in the classroom.

Combining specialized expertise with modern technology, the myopia team at TEPO can successfully slow (and sometimes halt) myopia progression and correct vision, resulting in sharp eyesight that lasts.

schedule a myopia control exam today

Custom Treatment for Each Child

To correct vision and control nearsightedness at the same time, our myopia specialists use the latest methods to provide every patient with personalized solutions. Our attentive doctors assess your eye health, discuss your vision and lifestyle, and determine the best myopia management method for you.

↓ Explore the 3 options: ↓

orthokeratology

Overnight Contact Lenses (Ortho-K)

We offer a special kind of lenses called ortho-k (or orthokeratology) lenses that your child wears while sleeping. These lenses gently reshape the surface of the eye overnight. This helps prevent the eye from getting worse and improves vision by morning. With ortho-k lenses, your child can have clear vision for school, sports, and other activities without needing glasses or regular contacts during the day.

We recommend Johnson & Johnson's Acuvue Abiliti Overnight for most children because of its robust FDA approval. We also use other options like Euclid and Paragon CRT in our clinic.

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MiSight

DAYTIME SOFT CONTACT LENSES

MiSight 1-Day contacts are worn like regular contacts. These soft lenses are comfortable for daytime wear and allow your child to see clearly. They're great for reducing eye strain, which can make myopia worse.

MiSight 1-Day lenses are made just for kids. They're the first and only daytime soft contact lenses approved for controlling myopia in children.

They're FDA-approved, clinically proven to be safe, and easy for kids to use.

Schedule a myopia control exam today
Low-Dose Atropine

PRESCRIPTION EYE DROPS

Using low-dose atropine drops every night helps relax your child's eyes and reduce eye strain, which can slow down myopia.

These drops don't fix vision on their own, so they work best when used along with glasses or normal contacts during the day.

Atropine is the least effective option, and it's medicine, so we typically use this when the other options are an imperfect match for your child.

Schedule a myopia control exam today

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Myopia?

Myopia is more than nearsightedness or the inability to see distant objects clearly.2 So what is the definition of myopia? Here are four key facts to know:

  1. Myopia is a chronic, progressive disease that leads to the eye growing too long.2-4
  2. This lengthening of the eye changes the eye’s ability to focus on distant objects, resulting in blurry vision.2
  3. Myopia may also increase the risk of permanent vision loss due to the development of cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, or other eye conditions.6
  4. Lifestyle changes, including more near work* and less outdoor time, are contributing to more children than ever before developing myopia at an early age.7,8





References:
2. Flitcroft DI. The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2012;31(6):622-660.
3. Donovan L, Sankaridurg P, Ho A et al Myopia progression rates in urban children wearing single-vision spectacles. OVS 2012;89(1):27-32.
4. Pärssinen O, Kauppinen M. Risk factors for high myopia: a 22-year follow-up study from childhood to adulthood. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2019;97(5):510-518.
6. Haarman AEG, Enthoven CA, Tideman JWL, et al The Complications of Myopia: A Review and Meta-Analysis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2020 Apr 9;61(4):49.
7. Huang HM, Chang DS, Wu PC. The Association between Near Work Activities and Myopia in Children-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 20;10(10):e0140419.
8. Wu PC, Chen CT, Chang LC, Niu YZ, Chen ML, Liao LL, Rose K, Morgan IG. Increased Time Outdoors Is Followed by Reversal of the Long-Term Trend to Reduced Visual Acuity in Taiwan Primary School Students. Ophthalmology. 2020 Nov;127(11):1462-1469. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.01.054.

Why It’s A Growing Problem

Previously, myopia was thought of as simply nearsightedness or blurry distance vision.2 We now know it’s so much more. Myopia is a chronic, progressive disease that is affecting children at an alarming pace.2-4 The number of people with myopia has nearly doubled over the past 20 years.5 It’s estimated that about one in three children in the U.S are affected by myopia.1




References:

1. Vitale S et al. Increased prevalence of myopia in the US, 1971-1972, 1999-2004. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(12)1632-1639.
2. Flitcroft DI. The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2012;31(6):622-660.
3. Donovan L, Sankaridurg P, Ho A et al Myopia progression rates in urban children wearing single-vision spectacles. OVS 2012;89(1):27-32.
4. Pärssinen O, Kauppinen M. Risk factors for high myopia: a 22-year follow-up study from childhood to adulthood. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2019;97(5):510-518.
5. Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology 2016;123:1036-42.

What Can I Do About My Child’s Myopia?

Once a child develops myopia, it is very likely to worsen as they grow, resulting in the need for higher and higher prescriptions for glasses or contact lenses.10

  • Every child should be monitored for myopia from an early age, with annual comprehensive eye exams starting by the age of 5.11,12
  • A comprehensive eye exam – which is much more extensive than an annual vision screening at school – can detect the early signs of myopia, as well as more than 270 systemic and chronic diseases.13
  • If a child has myopia, treatments are available.





References:

11. American Optometric Association. Annual Comprehensive Eye Exam.
12. Morgan IG, French AN, Ashby RS, Guo X, Ding X, He M, Rose KA. The epidemics of myopia: Aetiology and prevention. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018 Jan;62:134-149.
13. Systemic Conditions with Ocular and Visual Manifestations. American Optometric Association. December 2019.

More about Orthokeratology/Ortho-K
Clear vision without surgery, glasses, or daytime contacts.
What if you could correct your eyesight and reduce your dependence on corrective lenses, all while you sleep? It may sound impossible. But for many, it’s a reality with orthokeratology (ortho-k).

What is orthokeratology? Ortho-k uses specially designed, gas permeable contact lenses to temporarily reshape your cornea while you sleep. The result is clear vision when you wake up and remove the lenses the following day. And that effect should last throughout the day. The change in the shape of the cornea, as well as the vision correction you experience, will revert when you stop using the lenses.

What visual problems can ortho-k correct? Ortho-K is most commonly used to temporarily correct myopia (nearsightedness). In some cases, it can be used to correct lesser degrees of astigmatism and farsightedness.

It has the added benefit of slowing or stopping the worsening myopia in eyes that are still growing. To find out if ortho-k is right for you, click the link below this section to schedule a myopia control exam today.

Which ortho-K lenses do you use? The best lens choice depends on the eye shape and prescription. The three lenses we use most often are Johnson & Johnson's Abiliti overnight, Euclid Emerald, and Paragon CRT. Each has its' strengths. Euclid has the added benefit of being manufactured in Virginia (and is the #1 export of any product from Virginia to China).

Am I a good candidate for ortho-k? Only your eye care provider can answer that question. However, most people with mild to moderate myopia are good candidates. The treatment is highly preferred for people who have issues wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Want to learn more about your options? Schedule an appointment at The Eye Place to see if orthokeratology is right for you.

Where can I read more about myopia?

Knowledge is the key to making the best decisions for your family. There's a LOT of great information out there. Here's some:

General Information:

Media & News Articles

Clinical Studies

MYOPIA MANAGEMENT STARTS WITH THOROUGH CARE

Interested in myopia management? If you think your little one has myopia, a pediatric eye exam is the initial step to starting treatment. Keep your child’s eyes and vision healthy when you schedule a pediatric eye exam.

schedule a myopia control exam today