What is Myopia and Why Does It Matter?
Myopia means your child can see things up close, but things far away look blurry. It usually starts in childhood and tends to get worse as kids grow. While glasses and regular contact lenses can help your child see clearly, they don’t stop the eyes from getting more nearsighted over time.
Why is this a concern? Higher levels of Myopia can increase the risk of serious eye problems later in life, like retinal detachment or glaucoma. That’s why Dr. Kristina promotes a program focusing on ways to slow Myopia down—not just correct it.
Dual Focus Contact Lenses: A New Solution for Children with Myopia
Is your child nearsighted? If you’ve been worried about their vision getting worse every year, you’re not alone—and there’s good news. We have new tools to help slow down the progression of Myopia (nearsightedness) in children, and today we’re discussing management using dual focus contact lenses.
Dual Focus Contact Lenses: How They Work
Dual focus contact lenses are specially designed soft contacts that do two things at once:
- Correct Vision: They help your child see clearly, just like regular contacts or glasses.
- Slow Myopia Progression: The unique design of these lenses sends a special “signal” to the eye that helps slow down the growth that causes Myopia to get worse.
Think of it like this: regular lenses only fix the blur, but dual focus lenses also help tell the eye, “Stop growing so fast!”
Clinical studies have shown that children who wear dual focus contact lenses experience:
- About 50% less progression of their Myopia compared to kids wearing regular contacts.
- Slower eye growth, which means a lower risk of serious eye problems later in life.
Parents in these studies also reported that their children were happy with the lenses, and most felt comfortable with the process after just a few weeks.
Benefits of Dual Focus Contact Lenses for Myopia Control
1. Made Specifically for Kids: Dual focus contact lenses, like the FDA-approved MiSight 1-Day lenses, are made specifically for children. Studies have shown that kids as young as 8 can wear them safely and comfortably. In fact, most children adapt quickly and even enjoy the freedom from glasses-especially for sports and outdoor play.
2. Ease of Application: Parents often worry about their child handling contacts, but with a little practice and supervision, kids usually become pros in no time. Plus, daily disposable lenses mean there’s no need for cleaning or storing-just wear them during the day and toss them at night.
3. Helps with year-over-year vision loss: Dual focus contact lenses are a great option for many kids with myopia, especially if their prescription keeps getting stronger each year. The earlier you start, the better the results can be.
If this option sounds good for your child, here’s what to expect:
- Eye Exam: Dr. Kristina will check your child’s vision and eye health.
- Fitting: If dual focus lenses are right for your child, Dr. Kristina will fit them and a staff member teach you both how to use them.
- Follow-ups: Regular check-ups make sure the lenses are working and your child’s eyes are healthy.
Dr. Kristina will also teach you other ways to help slow Myopia, like spending more time outdoors and taking regular breaks from screens.
Is This Right for My Child?
Set up an appointment with Dr. Kristina to see if your child is a good candidate. Together, we can create a plan to protect your child’s vision now and for the future. Regular follow-up with an eye care professional like Dr. Kristina ensures optimal results and safety throughout treatment. Call us, send us an email, or shoot us a text to set up an appointment for your child to find out if this is the right treatment program for their vision. We’ll see you soon!