Myopia Management | Rainbow Optometry
Myopia (or nearsightedness) is an eye condition in which near objects appear clear, but distant objects appear blurry. Myopia management aims to slow eye growth and reduce myopia progression, resulting in a decrease in the overall prescription into adulthood.
Myopia has a strong genetic component. It also has strong associations with environmental factors such as prolonged near-point activities (reading and digital usage) and less time outdoors.
Higher levels of myopia is associated with higher risks of developing cataract, primary open angle glaucoma, myopic maculopathy, and retinal detachment. Glasses, traditional contact lenses, and refractive surgery do not reduce the pathological risks associated with myopia. Earlier myopia intervention, reduces the risks of serious myopia complications.
Myopia Management Options at Rainbow Optometry
At Rainbow Optometry, we offer orthokeratology, daytime multifocal contact lenses, Atropine treatment, and multifocal glasses to slow down the progression of myopia. The choice of optimal myopia control treatment depends on which one fits into the individual’s lifestyle, lens handling ability and preference. If you love your glasses and have less desire to wear contact lenses, you may prefer the Atropine therapy and/or multifocal glasses. Conversely, those who want to be less dependent on glasses may prefer the orthokeratology or daytime multifocal contact lenses options.
Orthokeratology (or Ortho-K) utilizes custom contact lenses to gently reshape your cornea. The treatment corrects your vision while you sleep, allowing you to see clearly in the day. Ortho-K can be a great alternative to conventional glasses or contact lenses for both children and adults. It gives better self-image, more convenience, less dry eye issue from wearing daytime contact lenses, and potentially better sports/swimming performance.
Daytime Multifocal Contact Lenses
There are many daytime multifocal contact lens designs available, ranging from standard lenses to fully customized lenses. Dr. Yuan will select the most appropriate design to reduce the rate of myopia progression.
Atropine treatment utilizes Atropine eye drops to be applied on the eye once per day. It is an adjunct treatment. Glasses, daytime contact lenses, or Ortho-K are still needed for vision correction.
Multifocal glasses are more effective in controlling myopia than conventional single vision glasses. If a child has myopia progression, and is too young for other myopia management treatments, multifocal glasses is a good alternative.