Myopia affects nearly half of the adult population in the US, and this number is expected to increase due to factors such as age, increased time looking at screens, and decreased time spent outdoors.
Being nearsighted presents many challenges. Younger patients are at risk of learning difficulties; older people with nearsightedness are also more likely to develop retinal detachment and other complications of the retina that can lead to serious problems – even blindness. Early treatment is essential to slow its progression and delay or prevent severe consequences.
The Myopia Management Clinic at Weston Contact Lens Institute in South Florida
The Myopia Management Clinic at Weston Contact Lens Institute offers the treatments our patients need for this condition. The clinic focuses on patients who:
- Became nearsighted as children
- Have progressive myopia that worsens year by year
- Have a family history of myopia
What We Do
At our Myopia Management Clinic, we offer a range of treatments designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness. Our treatment options include:
- Distance Center Multifocal Soft Lenses: These special contact lenses are used and worn just like traditional soft lenses, but they feature different “zones” in each lens that trick the eye and slow the progression of myopia.
- Orthokeratology Lenses: Ortho-K lenses are specially designed for each patient. We map the eye’s surface and use what we learn to create a custom lens. Ortho-K lenses are worn while sleeping to gradually and gently reshape the surface of the eye. Patients remove the lenses in the morning and enjoy clear vision all day long without wearing contact lenses or eyeglasses. These have been shown in several studies to effectively slow the progression of myopia.
- Atropine treatments: Atropine is a medication that comes in eye drop form. This medication in high doses dilates the pupil and relaxes the eye’s focus center. This treatment in low concentration is used with the goal of slowing the progression of myopia.
- MiSight One-Day Lenses: MiSight contact lenses are an FDA-approved myopia treatment that slows the lengthening of the eye. Patients who wear traditional contacts every day adjust to MiSight lenses quickly. Additionally, patients who struggle to adjust to Ortho-k lenses are prime candidates for MiSight, as it’s easier to insert and remove. The lenses can be discarded at the end of the day, reducing strict hygiene requirements.
- Essilor Stellest: Essilor® Stellest® Spectacle Lenses are designed for myopic children aged 6-12. Stellest® lenses correct blurry distance vision and control myopia progression using H.A.L.T. technology, which features 1021 tiny lenslets arranged in 11 rings that create myopic defocus. H.A.L.T. effectively reduces the stimulus that causes excessive eye growth. Spectacles are a less invasive option for controlling myopia in children who aren’t ready for contact lenses. Kids who already wear glasses adjust to Essilor® Stellest® glasses within a few days, because they are so familiar.
All these treatments have been shown to help slow the progression of myopia. If nearsightedness is a problem for you, contact our South Florida office today to get started exploring your treatment options.
