Myopia Management

Fashionable little girl in big eyeglasses at the autumn day,

Ian Donald Optometrist has been delivering the highest standard of clinical optometry for over 50 years. We have the expertise and technology to provide a full range of services, including eyeglasses, blue lens technology and emergency services.

And as experts in eye health, we can diagnose and recommend both traditional and cutting-edge treatments for a wide range of issues.

Myopia (also called short-sightedness or near-sightedness), for instance, is a very common condition with several new treatment options. Like many other eye issues, catching myopia early will give you the best chance of managing it.

Reading eyeglasses and beautiful nature view

Understanding myopia

Myopia is a type of refractive error, a common eye disorder that occurs when the eye cannot focus correctly. As a result, people with myopia may be able to see close objects clearly but find that distant objects appear blurred or distorted. Additional symptoms can include squinting, headaches and eye pain.

Myopia usually develops in childhood, but it can also affect adults, and the chance of it developing increases when you have family members with a refractive error. Sometimes environmental factors may also play a role.

With myopia, the eye is elongated and the cornea is not a standard shape. When light enters the eye, it bends in such a way that distant objects look blurred.

Recognising and diagnosing myopia

As mentioned, while myopia symptoms can emerge later in life, they tend to first appear in childhood and stabilise by early adulthood.

Our optometrists can easily diagnose myopia with an eye test, so if you find your child is often squinting, suffers regular headaches or complains that distant objects seem blurred, then we recommend coming in as soon as possible.

As myopia is hereditary, it’s also a good idea to talk to us if you have family members with myopia, glaucoma or other refractive issues that include:

hyperopia – difficultly focusing on objects that are close while distant objects are clear
astigmatism – a curving of the eye’s front surface or lens that results in blurring, headache and fatigue
presbyopia – age-related farsightedness (very common in anyone over 40).

Myopia can range in severity, so a regular eye examination will help us recognise it early and begin myopia management.

The most common myopia treatment options include glasses, contact lenses or in some cases, surgery such as LASIK. Ongoing extensive research into myopia and advances in technology are also helping us find exciting new options for myopia management.

Ortho-K (short for Orthokeratology) are advanced contact lenses that reduce your child’s dependence on glasses over the long term and may correct or slow myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia and presbyopia (blurred near vision).

It’s a revolutionary alternative to surgery, and now one of the most common methods of vision correction for our teen and pre-teen clients.

Another ground-breaking new treatment is MiSight 1 Day, the world’s first daily disposable soft lens developed specifically for myopia control, and the first lens technology designed to slow myopia progression in children and teenagers.

Male ophthalmologist with eyeglasses in clinic

Being proactive about eye health

A number of scientific studies conducted among schoolchildren over several years suggest the prevalence of myopia is on the rise. However, with treatment, many children can achieve can achieve stability and we can reduce the chance of progression significantly.

For adults, myopia may also be associated with higher eye disease risks such as diabetes or cataracts, so again, early diagnosis is vital.

Regular comprehensive eye exams for children, adults and seniors are key to the early detection and treatment of conditions such as myopia. If you suspect you or your child may have myopia or any other eye health issue, please contact us for an appointment.

Understanding myopia

Recognising and diagnosing myopia