Treatment
Myopia Control and Prevention: Slowing Nearsightedness in Children
Myopia (nearsightedness) is reaching epidemic proportions globally, affecting nearly 50% of the world's population by 2050. Myopia control encompasses evidence-based strategies to slow the progression of myopia in children, reducing the risk of high myopia and its serious complications including retinal detachment and glaucoma.
Overview
Myopia Control and Prevention: Slowing Nearsightedness in Children
Uses & Indications
Rapidly increasing glasses prescription year on year
Difficulty seeing distance in a child (squinting, sitting close to TV)
High myopia (over -6.00D) associated with retinal stretch and risk of detachment
Myopia often starts age 6-14 and progresses until early adulthood
Family history of myopia is strongest risk factor
Excessive near work and limited outdoor time accelerate onset
How to Use
Axial elongation of the eyeball (eye grows too long front-to-back)
Near work and screen time prevent the retina from receiving defocus signals
Insufficient outdoor time — bright natural light slows eye elongation
Genetic factors from myopic parents
Peripheral retinal defocus from standard single-vision lenses may accelerate growth
Urbanisation and education systems promoting intense near work
Benefits & Effectiveness
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): night-worn lenses reshape the cornea, slow myopia
MiSight 1 day contact lenses: soft lenses designed to defocus periphery
Low-dose atropine eye drops (0.01-0.05%): proven to slow progression
Spending 2 hours daily outdoors in natural light
Myopia-control glasses (Stellest, MiyoSmart) with defocusing rings
Regular 6-monthly eye exams to monitor axial length
Combined treatment approaches for faster progressors
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