myopia MANAGEMENT

What is Myopia?

Myopia is the term to define “short-sightedness”, whereby the eye is elongated compared to the “normal” eye. This results in the point of light focusing in front of the retina, resulting in distance vision blur. Myopia progression is a prevalent eye issue globally, and up until a few years ago, there were very limited ways to treat it. Now, optometrists and patients have a range of therapeutic options to treat progressing myopia and therefore reduce the prevalence of short-sightedness.

What causes myopia progression?

The exact causes of myopia are unknown, however we do know that having parents or siblings that are myopic, or increased screen time and using devices closer to the eyes, can all be risk factors for developing and worsening myopia.

Why should you treat myopia?

Myopia (or short-sightedness) is not simply a refractive condition requiring spectacles, rather it is an abnormal eye which is longer than it should be. The higher the level of myopia, the more at risk of that eye developing eye conditions such as maculopathy, glaucoma, retinal detachment and cataract which may result in uncorrectable sight loss in the future (i.e. vision that can not be fixed by stronger glasses).

What can we do to prevent its progression?

Early intervention is best. Thankfully in this modern era there are a number of options available in the market which includes wearing glasses with specialty lenses, contact lenses with special designs, eye drops and even a combination of these options. At Eyetech Optometrists, we manage many young myopes and prescribe all forms of treatment to slow or halt its progression. We are equipped with state of the art instrumentation that can accurately measure and monitor myopia.

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR MYOPIA

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Miyosmart Spectacles

This revolutionary spectacle lens based on patented Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (D.I.M.S.) Technology was developed to correct the visual defect on its entire surface and has a ring shaped treatment area to slow down myopia progression. This allows the wearer clear vision and manages myopia simultaneously.

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)

Ortho-K is a rigid lens worn overnight that is customised for each individual wearer to reversibly reshape the eye, providing clear vision during the day without the need for spectacles or contact lens wear. Ortho-K has been proven to successfully reduce myopia progression by approximately 50%. Eyetech was one of the first optometry clinics in Victoria to implement Ortho-K lenses, so we have strong knowledge and expertise in this area of contact lenses.

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Soft Contact Lenses

MiSight® 1 day daily disposable contact lenses are proven to slow the progression of short-sightedness (myopia) in children. These lenses are convenient to use, and are a good alternative to spectacles for sport and other recreational activities. They have a similar efficacy to ortho-keratology.

Atropine eye drops

Atropine is a compounded topical medication that increases the size of the pupils but also is thought to work on cells at the back of the eye to slow down eye length growth. The effect of atropine is dose dependent; the higher the dose, the stronger the myopia control effect. They are typically instilled once each eye at night, and are not avaiable under PBS. Atropine drops have been proven to slow down myopia progression by approximately 50%.