Has your child been diagnosed with MYOPIA (nearsightedness) and prescribed a pair of glasses?
Has their glasses prescription been increasing every year?
How can you prevent your child's eyes from getting worse and worse every year?
Myopia is a Progressive Condition
Once diagnosed with myopia, your child's myopia WILL progress (i.e. their glasses prescription will increase each year). The younger a child is diagnosed with myopia, the higher the resultant myopia will be as an adult. (1)
The prevalence of myopia has DOUBLED globally over the past 20 years, and a big reason for this is our modern lifestyle and environmental factors. Myopia is reaching pandemic levels with HALF of the world's population is expected to be myopic in 2050! (2)
The Problem with High Myopia
High Myopia is defined as having a glasses prescription greater than -5.00 D (5 Diopters).
To put this in perspective, a person with a -5.00 D of myopia can only see clearly if an object is 20 cm (8 inches) or closer in front of their face — this makes them completely dependent on glasses/contact lenses to perform their daily activities.
Not only is myopia an inconvenience, but people with myopia have a significantly increased risk of ocular diseases such as: myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and staphyloma.
This is due to the anatomical changes that occur in the eye with myopia. These ocular diseases can lead to vision loss and impairment.
EVERY DIOPTER MATTERS
Every additional -1.00 D of myopia increases the risk of myopic macular degeneration by 67%! (3)
Reducing Myopia Progression
This is where I can help. It used to be that optometrists just prescribed glasses to simply TREAT the myopia, but science and technology has come a long way, and optometrists are now able to slow down the progression of myopia using interventions such as:
specialized myopia control contact lenses
digitally designed myopia control spectacle lenses
pharmaceutical eyedrops (Atropine)
Every -1.00 D reduction in myopia can REDUCE the risk of myopic macular degeneration by 40% (3).
Set your child up for success and start today
I've worn glasses for myopia since I was 8 years old. As someone with -5.75 D of myopia, I wish my parents had known about myopia control strategies when I was a child.
If you're interested to learn more, book an appointment with me!
Call: (905) 829-8881 Email: myvision@orbeyecare.com
Dr. Sarah Oh received training at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science, and uses an evidence-based approach in managing myopia and other ocular conditions.
OTHER RESOURCES:
References:
(1) Chua SY et al. Age of Onset of Myopia Predicts Risk of High Myopia in Later Childhood in Myopic Singapore Children. Ophthal Physiol Opt 2016;36:388-94.
(2) Holden BA et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmol 2016;123:1036-42.
(3) Bullimore MA, Brennan NA. Myopia Control: Why Each Diopter Matters. Optom Vis Sci 2019;96:463-5.
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