Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, affects 50% of people in the United States.
If you’re struggling to see clearly, the IEI can prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Managing the progression of myopia may also help prevent cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachments. The IEI's Center for Myopia Management is conducting research into new, innovative treatments for nearsightedness.
The Center for Myopia Control specializes in optometric care of children and young adults with myopia. In addition to providing conventional glasses to clear vision, our services include options for controlling the progression of myopia.
We use specialty equipment and techniques to comprehensively evaluate the refractive errors, ocular size and shape of our patients’ eyes. These measurements – along with myopia progression history – are used to determine an optimum management strategy which may include specialty contact lenses or eye drops, outlined below.
What causes myopia?
Myopia has become increasingly prevalent. In the US, levels of myopia have reached 50%, while in Asia they are at epidemic levels. Both genetics as well as visual habits contribute to the progression of myopia. If both parents are myopic, then their child is more than 5x more likely to develop myopia themselves. Other factors such as minimal amounts of time spent outdoors, increased time devoted to near activities (smartphones, laptops, etc), as well circadian rhythm may play a role.
Why try to control myopia growth?
Once a child develops myopia, the average rate of progression is 0.50 diopters per year. Myopia has been associated with sight-threatening conditions such as cataracts, primary open angle glaucoma, and retinal detachments. The higher the amount of myopia, the greater the risk of these conditions. Therefore, reducing a person’s myopia progression also reduces their risk of these conditions. Myopia generally stops progressing in your late teens or early twenties.
What are treatments for controlling myopia?
There are treatments available which have been shown in studies to reduce a patient’s long-term myopia progression. These treatments include corneal reshaping therapy, multi-focal soft contact lenses, atropine therapy, and bifocal glasses. While there is evidence for the techniques and their ability to slow myopia, there is currently no FDA approved technique specifically for the indication of myopia control. All the techniques have been approved by the FDA, but not specifically for the slowing of myopia – as such, these are “off-label” uses of approved techniques.