Blurry vision is a common problem for many children. If you’ve noticed your child squinting to see the chalkboard, or you find yourself holding books closer than usual, it could be myopia—a condition more commonly called “nearsightedness.” So can myopia be reversed? How can you help?
Myopia can’t naturally be reversed, but it can easily be treated with your optometrist’s help. Progression can be slowed, and lenses in the form of glasses or contacts can correct your child’s eyesight. Myopia control offers a way to preserve your child’s future vision by slowing the eye’s growth and limiting the intensity of the developing myopia. For adults, laser eye surgery does exist as a more permanent way to correct myopia.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia occurs when the shape of the eye causes light to focus incorrectly. This makes it much more difficult to see at a distance—the further away an object is, the blurrier it is.
Normally, the cornea and lens work together to refract light directly onto the retina at the back of the eye. However, myopia causes the eyeball to elongate, changing how light focuses on the retina. As the eye grows longer, it becomes harder and harder to see clearly at a distance.
Myopia is closely linked with genetic factors. If one or both parents have this condition, a child is much more likely to develop it as well. Myopia rates are also on the rise—it’s believed that at least 50% of the world’s population will develop myopia by 2050.
The Risks of High Myopia
Myopia isn’t just about blurry vision. Because it causes the eye to grow too long, myopia can put too much strain on the structures of the eye. This increases the future risk of conditions like:
This is why it’s so important to learn the early signs of myopia. The sooner you catch this common condition, the easier it is to treat.
The Early Symptoms of Myopia
Myopia usually develops between the ages of 6-14, though this can vary depending on the environment and lifestyle. It’s often difficult for children to tell that their vision is changing, so try to watch out for:
- Frequent squinting
- Difficulty seeing distant objects clearly
- Holding books or screens very close to the face
- Complaints of headaches or eye strain
- Excessive blinking or rubbing of the eyes
- Needing to sit closer to the television or classroom board
If these sound familiar, it’s crucial to visit an optometrist. Remember—it’s about much more than vision. It’s about protecting your child’s future quality of life.
What Is Myopia Control?
If your optometrist diagnoses your child with myopia, they’ll likely recommend a program called “myopia control.” This is a personalized targeted treatment designed to slow how far the eye grows.
Myopia control aims to intervene and slow the eye’s growth, which preserves more of your child’s future vision. Here at Milton Vision & Sports Vision Training Centre, we often recommend a combination of:
- Orthokeratology
- MiyoSmart lenses
- MiSight lenses
- Atropine eye drops
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, is a customized treatment plan involving overnight contact lenses. While your child sleeps, these lenses gently put pressure on the edge of the cornea.
This temporarily corrects myopia and gives your child clear vision throughout the day. The results are temporary, and their eye will slowly revert to normal. However, ortho-k helps slow myopia progression by up to 50%.
MiyoSmart Lenses
MiyoSmart lenses are eyeglass lenses engineered to manage and control myopia. These incorporate a special pattern into every lens to help prevent myopia from worsening.
This special technology has 2 goals: to provide clear vision while slowing myopia progression significantly. MiyoSmart lenses can slow myopia progression by an average of 60%.
MiSight Lenses
MiSight lenses are daily disposable contact lenses specifically designed for myopia control in children. These lenses adjust the light as it enters the eye and signal that it can slow its growth.
Because the lenses are daily use only, they don’t require a complex care routine. This makes them an ideal choice for children, as they’re a convenient way to maintain clear vision. MiSight lenses have been shown to slow myopia development by 59% on average.
Atropine Eye Drops
Atropine eye drops are used to dilate the pupils and relax the focusing mechanism of the eye. In low doses, this helps slow the eye’s development—especially when combined with other forms of myopia control.
How to Treat Myopia for Adults
Myopia control offers a safe and effective way to protect your child’s future vision and eye health. However, there’s a catch—myopia control can’t reverse any existing changes in the eye.
For adults looking for a more permanent solution to myopia, laser eye surgery may be an ideal choice. These surgeries, like LASIK and PRK, offer a permanent solution for myopia, though not everybody is an ideal candidate.
Who Qualifies for LASIK?
Before making any plans for laser eye surgery, you’ll need to visit your optometrist for a laser eye surgery consultation. They’ll examine your eyes and take several scans to determine if this surgery could be a safe and effective solution for you.
To qualify for LASIK, a candidate must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have stable vision for at least a year
- Have healthy eyes with no significant issues like dry eyes or corneal diseases
- Have a suitable corneal thickness for the procedure
- Not be pregnant or nursing
A laser eye surgery procedure involves reshaping the cornea using a laser, changing how light focuses inside the eye. While laser eye surgery is highly effective, it isn’t a universal solution. Always listen to your optometrist regarding your eye health to avoid putting your eyes and vision at risk.
Get Help for Your Myopia
Myopia is a common problem, but your optometrist can help you or your child find clear vision again. And here at Milton Vision & Sports Vision Training Centre, we’re ready to help. Our team is dedicated to providing personalized care to those living with myopia, and we’re here for your family. Book an appointment with us today!
