No longer do parents have to accept their child’s eye will just worsen over time. We provide myopia management therapy to slow down the progression.

What Is Myopia?

Myopia, also referred to as nearsightedness, is a vision condition that causes objects at a distance to appear blurry and out of focus. Objects nearer to the individual are typically clear. It is possible to have myopia in addition to other vision conditions.

Myopia is caused by the eye growing too long from front to back, which causes incoming light to focus in front of the retina rather than on it, where it should be. Myopia can also be caused by excessive corneal curvature or a lens within the eye that is too thick.

Typically, this condition develops during childhood when the eyeball is going through periods of rapid growth. It may continue to progress quickly until early adulthood when the eye tends to stabilize. Childhood myopia is usually diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 7.

Prevalence of Myopia

Unfortunately, myopia is common and growing in prevalence. Currently, it is estimated that as much as 25% of the world (1.5 billion people) are considered myopic, and the number is expected to grow to 50% by 2050.

Researchers and eye doctors agree that a major factor is eye fatigue from the increasing amount of close-up work we do (using computers, phones, and tablets, reading, and studying). Less time spent outdoors may also contribute to the diagnosis of myopia in patients. Essentially, we are spending more time looking at objects closer to our faces and less time allowing our eyes to focus on those further away.

How to Manage Myopia

Myopia management involves a series of treatments that work to slow down the progression of myopia. Primarily, this treatment involves changing the structure of the eye by reducing stress and fatigue, which are significant factors in the development and progression of myopia.


With each patient having unique needs, we offer several different treatment options that are customized to each patient.

Myopia management treatments may include:

* Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)

• Precisely made cornea (front clear tissue of the eye) lens molds are worn to sleep and removed in the morning to provide clear vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses during the day. The resulting corneal shape helps slow myopic progression (worsening prescription).
• Ortho-K has been shown to slow this progression in children by 36-56% as compared to their spectacle wearing peers1.

* Multifocal contact lenses

• Specific multifocal contact lens designs are used to help children see clearly and slow myopic progression (worsening prescription). The design relieves stress and fatigue from near work.
• Compared with single vision contact lenses, multifocal lenses slow myopic progression by about 43% over three years2.

* Low dose Atropine therapy

• Low dose atropine eye drops have been shown in clinical studies to slow down the development of a worse prescription. It has been shown to reduce the myopic progression by 34.2%3

Our doctors carefully monitor and review each myopia management patient every 6-12 months to ensure progress and efficacy in treatment. We are proud to offer these evidence-based treatments that prevent the onset or reduce the progression of nearsightedness. Our dedicated team prides itself on staying at the forefront of eye care advancements so you can feel confident choosing us.

What to Expect

All patients are subject to an extensive vision examination. During this exam, an optometrist will check for several things, including:

* Corneal topography and choroidal thickness measurements
* Lifestyle questionnaire to determine the amount of time spent outdoors and doing near-work
* Discussion of the results
* Development of individualized treatment plan

Each of these tests is non-invasive and your comfort is a top priority for us. Our team is also familiar with helping children, and we are happy to explain anything you or your child has questions about.

Lighthouse Eye Care proudly serves our patients with excellent care. To schedule an appointment, please give us a call at (214) 383-9360.

1. Charm J, Cho P. High myopia-partial reduction ortho-k: a 2-year randomized study. Optom 2. Vis Sci. 2013 Jun;90(6):530-9. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0b013e318293657d.
2. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/multifocal-contact-lenses-slow-myopia-progression-children
3. Wei S, Li S, An W, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Low-Dose Atropine Eyedrops for the Treatment of Myopia Progression in Chinese Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2020;138(11):1178–1184. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.3820