Myopia, or nearsightedness, often begins in childhood. It means your child can see close-up objects but struggles to see things at a distance. Without the proper correction, myopia only gets worse, increasing certain risks as people age.
At Family Eyecare of Linden in Linden, New Jersey, our optometrists recognize the importance of myopia control for children. We offer plans that include comprehensive eye exams, eye drops, and contact lenses to help reduce the risk of problems such as cataracts later in life.
Eye exams are crucial for everyone, and that’s certainly true for growing kids. If you notice that your child struggles to see things farther away, they may be developing myopia.
Without intervention, myopia worsens as a child’s eyes mature, leading not only to more prescription changes but also to a higher risk of certain eye problems later in life.
Myopia control monitors your child’s eyes and vision to reduce the risk of worsening nearsightedness and potential complications.
We develop a comprehensive myopia control plan tailored to your child’s needs. After assessing their vision, we provide options to prevent worsening myopia, possibly including:
Orthokeratology lenses help reshape the corneas while your child sleeps, allowing them to see clearly during the day without glasses. This technique improves daytime vision and slows the progression of myopia.
These lenses are worn during the day and help children see clearly at different distances. They also help slow eye growth, reducing the progression of myopia over time.
Specially designed spectacle lenses, such as Stellest, are FDA-approved for myopia control. They help manage how light focuses on the retina, slowing myopia progression while providing clear vision.
Low-dose atropine eyedrops are used at bedtime. These drops slow abnormal eye growth, helping reduce the risk of your child needing stronger prescriptions as they grow and supporting long-term eye health.
Limiting screen time and close-up activities, such as reading for long stretches, and encouraging more outdoor play can reduce eye strain. Outdoor play is linked to a slower progression of myopia.
A comprehensive myopia control plan protects your child’s vision now and in the future, with benefits that include:
The sooner you bring your child in for an eye exam, the better, particularly if they have myopia or other vision concerns.
Schedule a comprehensive eye exam for your child today by calling our office or requesting an appointment online. We proudly serve areas including but not limited to Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Colonia, Scotch Plains, and Linden, New Jersey.
