When a child has myopia, it tends to progress. Vision prescriptions usually level out by the time a patient becomes an adult. However, there can be a lot of myopia (nearsightedness) progression before that happens. To help with this rapid progression, there are myopia control techniques that can be put into place by an eye doctor on our optometry team. There are two main ways that an optometrist on our team can help a child to slow down or stop his myopia progression so that his prescription doesn't get too severe by the time he is an adult. When you need an optometry appointment, call our optometry and optical center to schedule an eye care exam with an optometrist for your child. We at Miller Optometry in Yucaipa, CA.

Ortho-K Contact Lenses

One of the methods used by our eye doctors to control myopia progression is to prescribe ortho-K contact lenses for the patient. These are contact lenses that put a gentle pressure on the eye so that the refractive error can be corrected, even if it is only for a short time. When this happens, it can stop or slow down myopia progression, but it also has another benefit. When these contacts are worn consistently, wearing glasses is no longer needed. However, this is a temporary benefit. If the patent stops wearing the contact, they will need to wear glasses again. Ortho-K contacts from an optometrist are worn at night only. They are put in right at bedtime and removed first thing upon waking. 

Medicated Eye Drops

Atropine is a medication that can be added to the eyes to help control myopia. These come in the form of eye drops and are applied to the eye every night as a part of the bedtime routine. These eye drops can slow or stop myopia's progression so that the vision doesn't get as poor as it would have. These eye drops must be administered every night, and it may take a little time for the child to get used to them. However, they are an easy way to control myopia that can help many patients to keep their myopia under control.

Get Myopia Control for Your Child

If you have a child with myopia, it can progress rapidly without intervention. An eye doctor on our team can give your child the eye care he needs to try to stop or slow down this rapid progression for better vision. To make your child's optometry appointment for eye care, call our optometry and optical practice and schedule a time for an eye care exam. Call us at (909) 797-0134 for Miller Optometry in Yucaipa, CA.