4 Reasons Why Your Child Is the Perfect Candidate for Myopia Management

Children will experience several milestones throughout their life such as their first vacation, the first time performing in a school play, and even the first time they get to have a family pet. Unfortunately, there’s another first that your child may have to deal with, and that’s myopia. While myopia is simply the clinical term for nearsightedness, the reality of your child having this condition could lead to serious eye health consequences in the future.

The best thing that you can do for your child if you notice that they are struggling to see in the distance is to bring them to an eye doctor that can diagnose this condition and get them started with myopia management. The earlier you start managing myopia, the better foundation you’ll set for their eye health.

 

Why Begin Myopia Management?

Slowing the progression of myopia in children is critical to their overall health and development. The earlier you begin myopia management the better. At the heart of myopia management is the goal of slowing down the elongation of the eye, thus reducing the risk of developing eye diseases later in life, and of course reducing the progression of nearsightedness. If myopia goes unchecked, your child is at greater risk of:

• Retinal detachments
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Macular degeneration

Also, it may be difficult if not impossible for your child to maintain the quality of life that they need and deserve. Simple activities such as playing sports or keeping up with school activities may turn out to be a challenge for them when myopia increases significantly.

 

Is My Child Ready for Myopia Management?

One of the questions that you may have revolves around whether your child is ready for myopia management. While there are several factors to consider, here are a few reasons why your child may be the perfect candidate for this type of treatment:

 

1. They’re Still Fairly Young

Myopia management is specifically designed for children. If your child expresses that they are unable to see the whiteboards in school or keep up in sports, this is the time to schedule an appointment to discuss myopia management.

 

2. They’re Eager to Try New Things

One of the best parts of early childhood development is how truly eager children are to explore new things. Your child will have to learn how to handle the finer points of myopia management which can include using Orthokeratology lenses, atropine drops or MiSight soft contact lenses. Using these treatment options isn’t challenging to learn, and reassurance and encouragement will make this just another part of your child’s everyday life.

 

3. They Get Plenty of Outdoor Time

Did you know that spending time outside is an excellent way to reduce the progression of myopia? Since near work and screen time is directly linked to myopia progression, setting good habits around the use of cell phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices is a great foundation to start as early as possible. If your child is already getting plenty of outdoor time, they’re a great candidate for myopia management.

 

Limiting screen usage isn’t just an excellent idea for only children; the adults in the house can also model good behavior with their electronic devices. For example, not having cell phones at the dinner table is a great way to show that the focus can go back to the family and conversation.

 

4. They’re Great with Routines

Myopia management is simply a routine, albeit an ongoing one. Yet when you think about it, your child already has plenty of practices to follow at home and school. Just as they can learn how to do their homework or their choices, they can learn the steps they need to take to protect their eye health for the future.

 

Schedule Your Appointment to Discuss Myopia Management for Your Child

One of the best parts of myopia management is that it gives your child a sense of empowerment. They are taking small steps today to ensure that they have better eye health outcomes in the future. If you’ve talked to your child about their vision or you have concerns about their eye health, we encourage you to reach out to us today and schedule your appointment.