Myopia Management

Myopia Management

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Myopia Clinic

Myopia Management

Myopia, or shortsightedness, occurs when the eyeball grows longer than average, resulting in blurry vision for far distances. It has become more common in children- the prevalence among Australian 12 year olds has doubled in 6 years! Myopia in kids tends to get worse throughout childhood as they continue to grow- we like to take a proactive approach and talk about what you can do to slow down progression in your child’s eye as early as possible

Why am I shortsighted or myopic?

There are many risk factors which affect how myopic someone may be. These include

  • Family history – a person with one myopic parent has 3x the risk of developing myopia or 6x the risk of both parents are myopic
  • Amount of time spent on near tasks such as screen time
  • Amount of time spent outdoors
  • How close you hold something when looking at it
  • Incorrect glasses wear (such as under or over correction)
Child getting their eyes tested

Why should we consider myopia management?

The more myopic you are, the harder it is to see without glasses. This means you become more reliant on glasses for any activities such as sport, or even for walking around the house.

Being myopic is related to increased risk of eye disease such as retinal detachments and myopic maculopathy, and once the eye grows and becomes myopic, it is unable to be reversed.

If the eye is growing quickly, you are also more likely to have blurry vision between appointments and have an increased cost to update your glasses and contact lenses.

ldWhat are my options for myopia management?

All of our optometrists are trained in all myopia management options and stay up to date with the latest research and developments. We assess your risk factors, lifestyle and preferences to recommend a treatment plan. This plan can also be altered as time passes, but generally the following options need to kept up until mid to late teens, or adulthood if you are still showing signs of progression.

Myopia control glasses

Glasses are a great option for kids or adults who already wear frames and are comfortable wearing them. They are generally less fuss to put on in the morning and need to be worn all the time. We offer both Hoya Miyosmart glasses which uses D.I.M.S technology and Essilor Stellast glasses which uses H.A.L.T technology to slow down eye growth. Both types of glasses come with a 6 month warranty in case the eye changes in this time, but are more costly than plain lenses.

Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology or Ortho-K is a method where a hard contact lens acts as a mould and is applied to the eye while asleep. The gentle pressure exerted on the cornea, or surface of the eye overnight results in the temporary molding of the outer layers, providing “lens like” effects for the user. The effects last all day, providing vision for users without wearing glasses or contact lenses during their waking hours. The effects are dramatic and free people from issues with glasses or regular contact lenses such as sports and swimming. Orthokeratology lenses require cleaning daily and are custom made to your eye so must be highly cared for.

Myopia Control Soft Contact Lenses

Myopia Control Soft Contact Lenses are worn in the same as regular soft contact lenses. We recommend daily disposable lenses for the best hygiene and safety profile called MiSight lenses from Coopervision. The lenses need to be worn at least 5 days a week and 10 hours a day to be effective. They have the advantage of being more comfortable to wear than orthokeratology lenses and as they are thrown out at the end of the day, there is less cleaning involved and no issue if the lens is lost.

Eye drops

Atropine eye drops, has been found in several studies to reduce the progression of myopia and are best for people who do not need vision correction all the time. We can also add atropine eye drops to myopic people who may be progressing quickly. The drops are compounded- meaning they are made specially at a very low dose so there are minimal side effects, and must be purchased at a compounding pharmacy. Atropine eye drops must be used every night, and like any medication, if they are not used regularly, they will not be effective in reducing myopic progression.

Repeated Low Level Red Light Therapy

Repeated low level red light therapy (also known as RLRL) is the newest tool to help your child’s vision stay stable. It is a safe, drug free and non invasive way to control eye growth- your child looks into a home designed medical device which emits a low intensity red light. This light sends signals into the eye which encourages it to stop growing, and also thickens the choroid, an important layer at the back of the eye. Children complete the treatment under supervision from parents, twice a day for 3 minutes at a time. Large studies have demonstrated no serious side effects and this is a great option for children with sensitive eyes who refuse eye drops or contact lenses.

How do I know if my myopia management plan is working?

All patients entering a myopia management plan will have their eye length measured with an optical biometry scan. This allows us to track your baseline eye length or axial length, and we can plot how quickly your eye is growing against age-normal graphs. Especially in young children, we expect some eye growth with age. Ideally the myopia management plan will slow down the eye growth to age-normal levels and we can show this graph to you at each visit.

We love talking about myopia and you do not need a referral to see us for myopia management. For further reading we recommend the following websites:

Contact us today on and make an appointment to experience the Vision North Eyecare difference.

Frequently asked questions:

Can myopia be reversed?
Unfortunately once the eye grows longer, it cannot be reversed or cured. In some cases, a persons myopic prescription may decrease slightly, but this is generally due to changes in the focussing system of the eye- not due to a shortening of the eyeball.
Which myopia management option is best for my child?
Our optometrists look at a range of factors when recommending a myopia management plan. This includes any hobbies or activities your child enjoys, their preference for glasses, the level of myopia, the way their eyes focus up close and sensitivity to contacts or glasses. There’s no one best solution for everyone, but after a comprehensive examination, our optometrists will discuss the best option for your child.
How do I know if my myopia management plan is working?
All patients entering a myopia management plan will have their eye length measured with an optical biometry scan. This allows us to track your baseline eye length or axial length, and we can plot how quickly your eye is growing against age-normal graphs. Especially in young children, we expect some eye growth with age. Ideally the myopia management plan will slow down the eye growth to age-normal levels and we can show this graph to you at each visit.
Does myopia management work for adults?
The options discussed above have been tested in school aged children and the results have not been proven. If an adults myopia is still progressing, our optometrists can discuss using the treatments ‘off label’. This means that while there is not strong clinical evidence that the treatments work, it still may be advantageous to try some of the options..
I've had laser corrective surgery for myopia- when can my child have this procedure?
Laser corrective surgery such as LASIK or PRK flattens the cornea to correct myopia. This does not change the length of the eyeball and is not considered a myopia management strategy. These procedures are best suited to adults in at least their early 20’s where the eye is no longer changing. We perform optical biometry to measure the length of the eye, and this helps us judge when the eye has stopped growing and when laser corrective surgery may be suitable.