Myopia Management
What is Myopia?
The rise of myopia (nearsightedness) in children has become a growing public health concern worldwide. Increased screen time, reduced outdoor activity, and greater academic demands are contributing factors. Studies show that spending more time indoors, particularly during early childhood, can significantly raise the risk of developing myopia. This trend is especially pronounced in urban areas and developed countries, where lifestyle and educational practices have changed rapidly.
Myopia carries several serious risks beyond poor vision. It increases the likelihood of sight-threatening eye conditions such as:
Retinal detachment – due to the elongation of the eyeball stretching and thinning the retina.
Myopic maculopathy – degeneration of the central retina (macula), leading to permanent vision loss.
Glaucoma – high myopia is a known risk factor for this optic nerve disease.
Cataracts – especially nuclear cataracts, which can develop earlier in life.
These complications can lead to irreversible vision loss, making early detection and management critical.
Treatment Options
Thankfully there is research that has demonstrated that myopia control treatment programs are effective. On average, the studies have shown about a 50% reduction in myopia progression. There are several different treatment options including atropine drop therapy, daytime soft contact lens therapy and over-night orthokeratology (or corneal reshaping therapy). Other treatment options are currently in the clinical trial phase and we plan to closely monitor when these treatments are available to provide our patients with the most current technology as soon as possible.
MiSight 1 day soft contact lenses are the first FDA-approved method using soft lenses to slow the progression of myopia in the United States. The recently concluded clinical trial demonstrated 59% reduction in myopia progression in children aged 8-12 years.
Dr. Schirner has always been passionate about the importance of slowing the progression of myopia in her pediatric patients and she has been fitting patients in Ortho-K lenses for 10+ years. She herself is myopic and is excited to share new technology with her patients as improvements continue to be made. “As a kid I would have loved the freedom of not having to wear my glasses or contacts during the day.” She is certified to fit and dispense numerous specialty lenses including Acuvue’s Abiliti lenses. Abiliti is the first (and currently the only) FDA approved Ortho-K lens for Myopia Management.