Myopia is the official term that is used to describe short or nearsightedness. What this means is that people with myopia can see nearby objects clearly without prescription lenses, but those that are intermediate or further distances away appear blurred. Studies estimate that around 50% of the world’s population will have myopia by 2050.

Myopia can develop at any age, but over the last few decades, we have seen an increasing number of children being diagnosed. It’s thought that myopia develops quite rapidly in childhood in line with the growth of the eye. The earlier that myopia starts, the more myopic a person can become. This is bad news because people with high myopia levels are at increased risk of developing issues with the health of their eyes. For this reason, many children who develop myopia are recommended to start myopia management treatment. 

What is Myopia Management?

Myopia management refers to a plan of treatment that is designed to stop your child’s myopia from progressing. In doing so, it may help prevent them from experiencing serious vision and eye health problems in the future. 

A child’s eyes are supposed to grow at a regular rate until they reach the ages of 10-12. However, sometimes a child’s eyes will grow too quickly. Alternatively, they may not stop growing at that age and continue into their teenage years. If this happens, the excessive growth of the eye can cause the retina at the back of the eye to stretch. It’s this stretching that increases the risk of eye diseases and visual impairment. 

Eye Conditions Associated With Myopia

There is a range of different eye conditions that are associated with high myopia. These include:

Glaucoma: a condition characterized by increased pressure inside the eyes. Any vision loss as a result of glaucoma is permanent. 

Retinal detachment: where the retina pulls away from the back surface of the eye. Without urgent treatment, there is a very real threat to your vision.

Macular degeneration: this is where the cells in the center of the retina that is responsible for central vision and fine detail start to degenerate early. Macular degeneration doesn’t cause total blindness, but it can affect the quality of your day-to-day life. 

Reduce Your Child’s Need to Wear Prescription Lenses

As if worrying about eye diseases wasn’t enough, you’ll also have to bear in mind that the longer your child’s myopia is allowed to progress, the greater their reliance on prescription eyewear is likely to be. This means wearing either glasses or contact lenses. While many people happily wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, they can be restrictive. For example, it’s not possible to swim while wearing glasses, and you should never wear contacts in the pool as it dramatically increases the chances of developing an eye infection. Similarly, contact sports can be extremely dangerous when wearing glasses, and contact lenses aren’t practical for children who have eye allergies. By getting your child’s myopia under control, it’s possible to minimize their need to wear prescription eyewear in the future, and this could enhance their quality of life during their childhood and beyond. 

If you would like to find out more about myopia management or to schedule an appointment to have your child’s eyes assessed, please speak to our dedicated eye care team in Fort Worth, TX.