Myopia is a health condition that most commonly occurs among the children. Usually, it causes the child to have difficulties perceiving objects from a distance. Also known as nearsighted Myopia often occurs due to genetics or environmental factors. However, studies have found that the causes that contribute to the development of this condition are primarily hereditary or genetic.
Myopia is a condition that can develop in children at a young age and cause them serious difficulties as they get older. Cataracts, detached retinas, and glaucoma are three of the most common eye diseases and disorders. That’s why, with the guidance of a reputable ophthalmologist, parents should take myopia control measures to prevent their children from developing myopia.
Symptoms of Myopia
Most people with myopia report having trouble seeing distant objects clearly. Some more serious and widespread symptoms exist, though. Such as:
- Headache
- Eye strain
- Squinting
- Tiredness
While myopia is quite a common problem among children, around 40%-50%, it can be treated with appropriate Myopia Control measures. Let’s look at how you can treat myopia.
Types of Myopia Control
Generally approved strategies for reducing or preventing myopia include the following four. These methods are:
- Orthokeratology (OrthoK aka CRT)
- Medications
- Lenses
- Bifocal and multifocal Eyeglasses
Now, let’s look at how these methods work descriptively.
Orthokeratology (OrthoK aka CRT)
It is a method where the patient is provided with machines like contact lenses. However, this device is applied to the patient’s eye while sleeping. The gentle pressure exerted by this lens on the cornea results in the temporary molding of the outer layer of the eye which works just like a lens that enables the patient to avoid difficulties of near-sightedness.
It is important to note that the results of utilizing this technique will only persist for one day. However, it is highly effective for people who usually avoid wearing contact lenses and glasses. It also has been proven with adequate evidence found in the studies that this myopia control method can be effective if you want to stop the progression of Myopia.
Medications
Another quite effective myopia control method is medications. However, there are still studies needed to find the proper medication to mitigate the problem completely. But there are medications available that can provide temporary relief from myopia.
Lenses
Several studies have demonstrated that lenses are very helpful in preventing or delaying the growth of myopia. There are different types of lenses available, and these lenses are Ortho-K lenses and distance center bifocal lenses. This will, however, depend on the ophthalmologist to determine which lenses will be effective for your children after diagnosis.
Bifocal & Multifocal Glasses
Researchers have found that wearing different prescription glasses, like bifocal and multifocal glasses, can significantly lower the progression of the conditions. In some instances, it can also eradicate the problem forever. For children who don’t feel comfortable about wearing contact lenses or using medications, providing them with bifocal glasses has also shown a significant effect. This means glasses are a highly effective Myopia Control measure.
Importance of Myopia Control
Myopia is the most common eye issue and is commonly inherited, so it may appear trivial. But when the condition worsens, the eye expands at an alarming rate. Unlike regular eyes, myopic eyes are long, or you can also imagine them as an egg. As the myopic eye grows, it eventually causes the retina to stretch out, which causes the problem of near-sightedness.
If it is not treated early, it can lead to severe problems like cataracts, detached retinas, and glaucoma.
In addition to this, myopia Control is about providing quality of life. Being short-sighted can be difficult for your children, as it often becomes difficult for them to perform day-to-day tasks more efficiently. So, to have an efficient and quality life, you need to have your children adequately treated with appropriate measures.
Conclusion
In short, human eyes are an essential part of the human body and to lead a healthy and happy life, a person needs to be physically and mentally fit. Therefore, you must treat your children’s problems at an early stage with the help of an ophthalmologist to ensure that they can lead a quality life in the future.