Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common eye condition where close objects are clear, but distant objects are blurry. It results from the eye growing too long, which causes light to focus in front of the retina. If left unmanaged, myopia can progress, increasing the risk of more serious eye problems later in life.
At Ashburton Eyecare, we closely monitor the progression of myopia in children using advanced technology. Our Optopol software package allows us to track and plot your child’s eye growth over time, much like how child development is monitored. This detailed tracking helps us understand how different treatments are affecting the eye’s growth—giving us a clear picture of whether the myopia is slowing down or progressing.
We offer a full range of myopia management options tailored to your child’s needs. Specialty spectacle lenses, such as Stellest and MiYOSMART, are designed to reduce peripheral eye growth signals. We also provide daily disposable soft contact lenses, like MiSight and Abiliti, which have been proven to slow the progression of myopia effectively. For those wishing for to enjoy their day free of contact lenses or glasses, Orthokeratology (OrthoK)—overnight reshaping contact lenses—can correct myopia during sleep and slow eye growth.
In addition, we explore combination therapies, such as Repeated Low-Level Red-Light therapy, which research suggests may have a role in controlling eye growth, alongside atropine eye drops at low doses. These treatments work together to give your child the best chance of limiting myopic progression.
Proper correction of binocular vision (how both eyes work together) is also crucial. Ensuring your child's eyes are aligned and working well not only improves visual comfort but also helps prevent factors that can drive the progression of myopia.
If you’re concerned about your child's eye health or want to understand how we can help prevent their myopia from worsening, Ashburton Eyecare is here to help. Our goal is to protect their vision now and into the future.
