Myopia is the single most common refractive eye condition in the world. Also known as nearsightedness, it occurs when the cornea is an irregular shape and doesn’t refract light correctly onto the retina. Instead, light falls in front of the retina, which is an area of light-sensitive cells found at the back of the eye. This causes the messages sent to the brain to be confused, causing vision to appear blurred.

Myopia control is important for several reasons. The first is that keeping your myopia under control will prevent it from worsening, keeping your vision stable and your prescription the same for longer. Secondly, high myopia levels have been linked to a range of serious eye conditions. The higher your myopia, the more likely you could be to develop cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment – all of which can have serious and even permanent consequences for your vision.

There are currently several accepted treatments for myopia control. Let’s take a look at these in more detail. 

Orthokeratology

Also known as ortho-k for short, orthokeratology is an innovative approach to myopia management that uses custom contact lenses to reshape the surface of the cornea while you sleep. Although most contact lenses shouldn’t be worn overnight, ortho-k lenses are made from a gas permeable material that makes them safe to be slept in. As you sleep, the lenses will apply gentle pressure to the corneas which will temporarily reshape them to improve vision the next day. You then remove the lenses in the morning. 

Not only does ortho-k help to slow the progression of myopia, but when used consistently, eyes can retain their new shape for several hours once the lenses have been removed. This means that you can benefit from clearer vision the next day. You may not even need to use prescription eyewear like you usually would. 

MiSight Contact Lenses

MiSight 1-day contact lenses are clinically proven to help slow the progression of myopia in children. Firstly, they correct nearsightedness so that you can enjoy clear vision without needing to wear glasses. Secondly, they have a special optical design that slows the speed at which myopia progresses and alters the way that light is focused by the eyes. This reduces the stimulation that causes the eyeballs to grow too long and is a key cause of myopia.  
 

If you would like more information about types of myopia management, including advice on which might be right for you or your child, call Clarke EyeCare Center in Wichita Falls, Texas at 940-905-0700 to schedule an appointment today.