Myopia Management Programs

What is Myopia?

Myopia is the clinical term for “nearsightedness.” Nearsighted eyes see objects close up clearly, while objects in the distance are blurry without glasses. Myopia usually results from the eyes being too long and is typically diagnosed in childhood. Just like feet get bigger and children grow taller, the nearsighted eye tends to get longer over time. This growth is different for each child. Worsening myopia can result in nearsighted children often needing to get stronger glasses every year as their eyes continue to grow. In adulthood, high myopia also has been associated with common vision-threatening conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachments.

Treatment Options

Myopia treatments have been shown to slow the progression of a person’s myopia by up to 50%. The following list details the type of Myopia Control options we offer here at Accent on Vision ABQ:

• Stellest Eyeglass Lenses – Stellest® lenses are specialized eyeglass lenses designed to help slow the progression of myopia (nearsightedness) in children. Developed by Essilor, these lenses use Highly Aspheric Lenslet Target (H.A.L.T.) Technology, which creates a ring of tiny lenslets around the central prescription area. These lenslets help focus light in a way that sends signals to the eye to slow excessive eye growth, which is a major factor in myopia progression.
• Corneal Reshaping Therapy (CRT lenses) – Corneal Reshaping Therapy (CRT®) lenses are specially designed rigid gas permeable contact lenses that are worn while sleeping and removed upon waking. During the night, the lenses gently reshape the front surface of the eye (the cornea), allowing for clear vision throughout the day without the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses. Because the effects are temporary, the lenses must be worn regularly to maintain clear vision.
• MiSight Daily Contact Lenses – MiSight® 1 day contact lenses are soft, daily disposable contact lenses designed to help slow the progression of myopia (nearsightedness) in children. Worn during the day and discarded after a single use, these lenses provide clear vision while also helping manage eye growth. MiSight lenses use a specialized multifocal design that bends light entering the eye in a way that helps reduce the signals associated with myopia progression.
• Atropine Medicated Eyedrops –  These are a specially formulated and compounded low-dose eyedrop. These drops slightly dilate the pupil and cause the eyes’ focusing mechanism to relax, which reduces the signals being sent to the brain that tells the eye to keep growing. 

How Well Does Your Child See? 

The images below are simulations of different prescription powers, showing just how blurring things can be for nearsighted children.

             

Images © CooperVision, Inc. (Paragon CRT®). Used for educational purposes.