The world’s children are seeing a rapid rise in myopia, or short-sightedness. In many children, the spectacle power continues to increase every year due to excessive eye growth. This is also called as axial elongation. Progressive myopia is not only associated with thicker glasses, but may also increase the future risk of retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma and other sight-threatening eye conditions later in life. Contemporary myopia management focuses on slowing progression for these long-range risks, not just correcting vision with regular glasses.
Myopia control contact lenses are specially designed lenses developed to help slow down the progression of myopia and reduce excessive eye growth in children and young adults.
These lenses, unlike standard contact lenses, use advanced optical designs that give clear central vision and induce controlled peripheral myopic defocus, a mechanism that has been shown to help reduce further axial elongation.
International clinical studies have yielded promising results for myopia control contact lenses. Studies of multifocal and dual-focus soft contact lenses have shown significant slowing of the rate of myopia progression and the rate of axial length change compared with conventional single-vision correction.
The BLINK Study, funded by the National Eye Institute, also found that children who wore higher-add multifocal contact lenses had slower myopia progression and less eye growth than children who wore standard contact lenses.
At Reform Vision Myopia Clinicmyopia control contact lenses are dispensed only after detailed evaluation of the child’s visual system and progression pattern. Every child is different and treatment planning is tailored to the individual child based on age, refractive error, axial length changes, binocular vision status, corneal shape, lifestyle and visual demands.
Soft Multifocal / Dual-Focus Contact Lenses
These lenses are worn during the day and are one of the most researched options for myopia management. They provide clear vision and at the same time help to slow the progression of increasing spectacle power.
Benefits:
* Comfortable Daywear
* Clear view of school and activities of the day
* Better visual freedom than glasses
* Vision correction based on evidence
* Appropriate for sports and active children.
Orthokeratology (or ortho-K) lenses are special rigid gas permeable lenses worn overnight. These lenses are worn while sleeping and gently reshape the cornea, so you can see clearly during the day without glasses or contact lenses.
Various studies have shown that Ortho-K lenses may slow axial eye growth significantly in children with progressive myopia. Active kids in sports
* Children with fast-progressing myopia
* kids want freedom from daytime glasses to Advanced evaluation before lens fitting.
Myopia control lenses are only started after a detailed assessment at Reform Vision to ensure safety, comfort and long-term effectiveness.
The assessment may include:
* Cycloplegic refraction.
* Measurements of axial length
* Topography of the cornea
* Assessment of tear film
* analysis of binocular vision
*Testing accommodation
* Screen-time and lifestyle assessment
This detailed approach aids in identifying children who are at higher risk of progression and allows personalized treatment planning based on current evidence-based myopia management protocols.
Children who develop myopia early or have rapidly progressing myopia are more likely to become highly myopic. Studies have shown that greater degrees of myopia are associated with an increased risk of retinal and macular complications in adulthood. Therefore early intervention is important for the protection of long-term ocular health.
* Myopia progresses slowly
* Slow excessive axial eye growth
* Enhance visual freedom and confidence
* Encourage active lifestyles and sports participation
* Get rid of heavy glasses
* Reduced future risk of high myopia. Follow-up and Monitoring Importance
Regular follow-up is essential in myopia management as progression patterns between children can vary greatly. Monitoring helps to determine how well a treatment is working and allows changes in management to be made promptly, if required.
Follow-up may involve:
* Progression assessment of refractive
* Axial length surveillance
* Contact lens fitting evaluation
* Assessment of the ocular surface
* Visual comfort assessment
* Review of lifestyle and visual habits
* Evidence-based approach to myopia control
* Sophisticated axial length monitoring
* Pediatric fitting experience
* Individualized treatment planning
* Contemporary methods of myopia control
* Long-term monitoring for progression
* Clinical environment that is child-friendly
* Focus on long-term eye health protection
At Reform Vision Myopia Services we are dedicated to not only improving current vision but also slowing myopia progression and protecting the long-term eye health of children through personalized, evidence-based care.