At What Age Can You Start Myopia Management?

Myopia is the most common refractive eye condition in the world. Also known as nearsightedness, it occurs as a result of the eyeball growing too long, causing light to be refracted in front of the retina rather than directly onto it. This means that the messages sent from the eye to the brain are mixed, causing images to appear blurred.

The number of people developing myopia is on the rise, with studies estimating that around 50% of the world’s population will suffer from the condition by 2050.

What is Myopia Management?

Myopia management is the name given to techniques that are used to prevent the progression of myopia. There are several different myopia management options that patients may be given. These include wearing prescription glasses, and a new treatment called orthokeratology.

Orthokeratology, or ortho-k for short, is an innovative approach to myopia management. It uses special contact lenses that are gas-permeable and safe to be worn overnight. These bespoke contact lenses reshape your eyes while you sleep, gently exerting pressure on them. The next morning, they are removed, but the eyes manage to retain their new shape for a number of hours. This means that in addition to helping to slow the progression of myopia, patients who choose ortho-k can also benefit from clear vision without glasses or contact lenses for some time. When worn consistently, patients can find that their vision remains clear for a full day.

Why is Myopia Management Important?

With so many people suffering from myopia, it’s little wonder that so many people underestimate the condition. While it won’t cause actual blindness, it is a progressive condition that will get worse without treatment. And studies have shown that people with high myopia are at greater risk of developing more serious issues with the health of their eyes, such as:

Macular Degeneration

Caused by the degeneration of the cells in the middle part of the eye called the macula, macular degeneration can make everyday activities like reading, watching tv, and driving very difficult, and there’s no cure.

Retinal Detachment

This condition occurs when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye and can cause blindness if it’s not treated right away.

Glaucoma

A condition that is characterized by excessive pressure inside the eyes. It develops slowly in most cases, but any vision that is lost is permanent.

At What Age Can You Start Myopia Management?

Eye doctors recommend that people with myopia start treatment to manage their condition as early as possible. This is because the earlier management begins, the more quickly you can prevent the progression of the condition and keep myopia at very mild levels.

Myopia is usually diagnosed in childhood, and this is when myopia management can begin. Experts agree that while individual cases vary, children can start wearing glasses to control their myopia from as young as 4 or 5 years old. Meanwhile, orthokeratology can be effectively used as young as 8 or 9 years old – or whenever your child is happy to wear contact lenses overnight and handle them themselves. Your eye doctor will help you to assess your child’s suitability for myopia management.

If you would like more information about myopia management, please contact our friendly and knowledgeable eyecare team at Smart Eyecare in West New York, New Jersey by calling (201) 854-3411 today.