Myopia Control

Options Optometrists offers effective treatment and management of myopia for patients.

We create personal treatment plans to help slow the progression of myopia and improve vision. Our proactive approach aims to achieve the best possible outcome for you or your child.

Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is a common vision condition where close objects appear clear but distant ones are blurry. This is caused by the eyeball being too long or the cornea being too curved, making light focus in front of the retina instead of on it. Determining the primary cause is essential, as a longer-than-normal eye poses more risks than one with high focusing power. As myopia progresses with eye growth, the tissue at the rear of the eye becomes stretched and damaged.

Once this change occurs, it is irreversible, making it important to control myopia progression as soon as possible.

Any level of myopia can increase the risk of eye problems such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts. Higher levels of myopia increase these risks, especially if the eye is longer than 26.5mm, which is known as pathological myopia. Even with mild myopia, there’s still a chance of developing glaucoma and or retinal detachments later. Keeping your child’s myopia from getting worse can help lower these risks. It also means they most likely won’t need as thick lenses as they may have done without treatment.

Myopia development is influenced not only by genetic factors like a family history of short-sightedness but also by various environmental and behavioural factors. Studies show that children who engage more in close-up activities, such as using electronic devices, and spend less time outside, are more prone to developing myopia. This trend might contribute to the rising occurrence of myopia in children globally. Also, children who start showing signs of myopia at a younger age are more likely to experience severe myopia later on. Problems with eye coordination (binocular vision disorders) have been associated with the worsening of myopia.

The good news is that Options Optometrists have several ways that we can help to control and slow myopia progression in your child. We use a proactive approach to develop a custom treatment plan based on your child’s lifestyle, age and prescription.

Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology, or ortho-K, involves wearing custom-made hard lenses while you sleep. These lenses temporarily reshape the eye’s surface, giving clear vision the next day without the need for glasses or lenses. These lenses have been shown to significantly slow myopia progression in most patients. Ortho-K is currently only available at our Joondalup, Livingston (Canning Vale) or Tea Tree Plaza locations.

Soft Contact Lenses

Multifocal soft contact lenses, commonly used by individuals over 45 to enhance near vision, derive their name from ‘multi’, meaning multiple, and ‘focal’, meaning focus. These lenses differ from single-vision lenses as they can simultaneously focus light from different distances. The retina reacts to these varying focus points by signalling a reduction in eye growth.

Atropine Eye Drops

Atropine relaxes certain muscles in the eye and is used to treat various eye conditions. Low doses are commonly used in children to slow the progression of myopia. These drops regulate eye growth, which prevents the eyeball from lengthening too quickly.

Peripheral Spectacle Lenses

These innovative lenses appear identical to regular eyeglasses but use optics similar to custom contact lenses to slow down eyeball growth. These lenses provide children with an excellent non-invasive option for controlling myopia.

Myopia control is available at all Options Optometrists branches in Perth and Adelaide.

Contact your local Options Optometrist today to discuss myopia management options.

Frequently Asked Questions