The Role of Optometrists in Myopia Management for Kids

Children need good help to have a good start in life. The College of Optometrists recommends bringing your child to an optometrist to help detect the early signs of myopia. Once the diagnosis is set, managing this eye condition must happen right away. Understanding the role of your optometrist in managing your child’s myopia can help you and your child prepare for the appointment. Here are the details.

Helps Manage Myopia

Your optometrist can provide different interventions for managing myopia. During the consultation, your eye doctor will discuss what will happen during the treatment. Your eye doctor will answer the questions that you may have. Here are the other things that your optometrist can do to manage your child’s myopia:

·      Updates the patient about the risks and benefits of the interventions.

·      Explains each available treatment.

·      Measures the outcomes.

·      Keeps good records of different discussions that lead to consent.

Knows What to Tell Parents and Young Patients

Your optometrist can explain what myopia is. This can help you and your child know what types of lifestyle components affect myopia. Your eye doctor can also tell you the approaches that can help manage this eye problem. The most common treatment is a refractive correction, which can slow the progression of myopia.

Explains the Risk and How to Manage Them

Studies reveal that if you have an East Asian ethnicity, you can develop myopia. Having parents with myopia can increase your risk of this eye disease as well. Performing near-vision activities can also increase your risk of myopia. Spending most of your day indoors can also lead to this eye problem.

Your optometrist will explain that you need to encourage a balance of distance and near work. That way, your child’s eyes can focus well on both types of tasks. Spending more time outdoors can help delay the progress of myopia. In some cases, more outdoor time can prevent nearsightedness.

Keeps an Eye on Your Child’s Development With Myopia Management

Orthokeratology or ortho-k lenses are effective in slowing down the progress of myopia. These custom-fit lenses provide predictable results. You can prevent complications from this treatment by following proper contact lens hygiene. Research reveals that ortho-k lenses are unlikely to cause corneal infections.

Your optometrist will guide you and your child in using ortho-k lenses. Wearing these lenses overnight will be enough time to reshape your child’s cornea. The next day, your child will have clear vision without any need to wear corrective lenses or eyeglasses. Follow-up checkups, good lens fitting, and proper lens care are necessary to make these lenses effective for a long time.

Considering Myopia Management

Clinical research reveals that myopia management can reduce the child’s risk of developing serious eye ailments later in life. Ortho-k lenses can slow down myopia progression as well. These effects can help your child perform well in and out of the classroom. This will allow your child to develop the skills and gain the knowledge necessary to face life’s challenges. Managing myopia can give your child an edge in every activity.

Your optometrist can help make myopia management stress-free. At Seymour Eye Clinic, we help our patients maintain or regain their eye health. You can visit our clinic in Seymour, Indiana, for an in-person consultation. Please call 812-523-6100 to set an appointment or ask about our myopia management packages.