Helping Young Eyes Stay in Focus

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common refractive error that affects the eye’s ability to focus light properly. It occurs when the eye grows too long or the cornea becomes too steep, so light focuses in front of the retina rather than on it. Those with myopia are able to see well close-up but experience blurry distance vision.

There is no cure for myopia, but it can be controlled and its progression slowed. These control methods are particularly useful for preventing high myopia, a condition that can lead to more serious eye health complications.

At Sun Valley Eye Care, we offer several effective myopia control methods. A comprehensive eye exam can diagnose myopia and our optometrists will then provide information as to the appropriate methods of control.

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What Causes Myopia?

Children’s eyes change rapidly during childhood, with vision stabilizing in early adulthood.

The exact reason why myopia develops is largely unknown, but it is theorized that genetics, environmental factors, increased near work, and less time spent outdoors are risk factors for myopia progression. When more than one of these factors are present, the risk of developing myopia increases.

High Myopia

When myopia develops in very young children, the more time it has to progress, potentially culminating in high myopia by the time vision stabilizes. High myopia presents several eye health risks, including:

Open-angle glaucoma
Cataracts
Retinal tears that can lead to a retinal detachment
Myopic maculopathy
Myopia macular degeneration

Postponing or slowing myopia progression can help prevent younger children from developing high myopia and subsequently, more serious conditions.

Myopia Control Methods at Sun Valley Eye Care

Most people with myopia can correct their vision with eyeglasses and contact lenses (and once they are over 18, laser eye surgery), but these methods do not prevent myopia from progressing in children.

To slow myopia, control strategies should be implemented as soon as possible, while the eyes are still growing. At Sun Valley Eye Care, we offer atropine drops, specialty contact lenses, anti-fatigue lenses, and multifocal eyeglass lenses to slow myopia’s progression.

Atropine Drops

Atropine eye drops are commonly used to dilate the pupils during a comprehensive eye exam, but it has been discovered that low-dose atropine drops (a 0.01% solution) are exceptionally effective at slowing myopia progression in children with minimal side effects.

The exact reason why atropine drops slow myopia’s progression is unclear, but evidence based scientific studies show that atropine binds to the growth receptors in the eyes, blocking the accommodative function that encourages eye elongation.

MiSight® 1 Day Contact Lenses

These single-use, soft contact lenses are clinically proven to slow myopia progression (and provide clear vision) in children between the ages of 8 and 12.

MiSight lenses use myopic defocus to focus light in front of the retina to encourage the eye to stop growing.

MyoVision® Pro Lenses

MyoVision lenses by ZEISS are myopia control lenses designed specifically for nearsighted children. These eyeglass lenses are built on the principle of peripheral defocus to slow myopia progression while providing clear vision in a pair of glasses. They are ideal for children between the ages of 6 and 12.

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You can easily find our practice in the same building as the South Calgary Medical Clinic. Validated, accessible parking is available in front and beside the building.