Myopia Management in Lee's Summit

Myopia, also called nearsightedness or shortsightedness, is the inability to see things clearly unless they’re situated close to your eyes. It is the most common refractive error among children and young adults. Most patients with this condition wear eyeglasses or contacts to correct their vision.

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However, myopia is more than an inconvenience; it can pose a serious risk to your child’s long-term vision. As a child develops and the myopia rapidly progresses, the child is at a higher risk of developing dangerous eye diseases later in life. Namely, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. Thankfully, Myopia Management can help.

Myopia Management solutions include eye drops, specific contact lenses, and glasses, which can help slow down the rapid visual deterioration that occurs with myopia. Contact Myopia Management Center at Eyecare Specialties and see how Myopia Management can help your child experience clearer, sharper vision and a higher quality of life.

What is Myopia?

Myopia develops when the eye grows too long from front to back, which causes light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. For those with nearsightedness, distant objects appear blurred while nearby objects remain clear.

This condition develops during childhood, when the eyeballs are experiencing rapid growth, and tends to progress gradually or rapidly into the late teen years. Myopia can be easily corrected using corrective glasses or contact lenses.

Childhood myopia is typically diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 7 and worsens during the eye’s rapid growth years. The prescription tends to plateau at around age 12.

The Growing Prevalence of Myopia

Myopia is becoming increasingly prevalent around the world, with a recent study showing that close to 30% of the world’s population is currently myopic. Alarmingly, by 2050, close to 50% of the global population will be myopic. That’s a staggering 5 billion people!

Myopia rates have shot up in the last 20 years. In China, between 10-20 % of primary school children are myopic. This number increases to 50% for high school students, and by the time they reach university, 90% of the student body is nearsighted.

The good news is that thanks to Myopia Management, you can protect your children from landing on the wrong side of this statistic.

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What is Myopia Management?

“Myopia management” is a series of treatments that eye doctors use to slow the progression of myopia in children. Our myopia management treatments can induce changes in the structure of the eye by diminishing the stress and fatigue linked to the development and progression of myopia. Several studies have indicated that these treatments successfully slow down the progression of nearsightedness in children and teens.

The Myopia Management Center at Eyecare Specialties currently offers several different customized treatment options to slow the progression of myopia. Our doctors work closely with each family and customize treatment programs for every child based on their unique needs.

Patients are carefully monitored by Dr. Kyle Johnson and reviewed every 6-12 months to assess the efficacy of the chosen treatment modality.

Myopia Management Center at Eyecare Specialties is a Myopia Management practice that offers evidence-based treatment to prevent the onset or reduce the progression of myopia in pediatric patients.

Because we stay on the forefront of the latest research, you can be sure that Myopia Management Center at Eyecare Specialties is maximizing the chances of your child’s success.

Patients We Typically Work With

Patients with progressive myopia (-0.25DS or more in the last 2 years)
Patients with refractive error: MSE (sph + 0.5*cyl): +0.50 DS to -6.00 DS, no limit on DC
Patients at risk of becoming myopic due to a family history of myopia (one or two myopic parents)
Patients who spend over 3 hours a day doing near work (reading, studying, writing)
Patients who spend less than 6 hours a week outdoors
Patients under the age of 16

The Growing Prevalence of Myopia

The good news is that thanks to Myopia Management, you can protect your children from landing on the wrong side of this statistic.

Call Our Offices

Book An Appointment

Serving Myopia Management Patients From:

Lee’s Summit | Clinton | Sedalia | Warrensburg | and throughout Missouri

Soft Multifocal Contacts For Myopia Management

Soft multifocal lenses can be used to halt the eye elongation responsible for myopia. This not only corrects your child’s vision, but also slows or stops myopia from progressing altogether.

Orthokeratology for Myopia Control in Kids

Orthokeratology, also known as “ortho-k”, is a safe and effective method of correcting vision while slowing the progression of myopia in children. If you are the parent of a nearsighted child, learn how ortho-k can also help preserve your child’s eye health.

MiSight Contact Lenses For Myopia Management

CooperVision’s MiSight 1 Day Contact Lenses are daily single-use contact lenses shown to significantly slow the progression of myopia in children.

Ortho-K, the Safe Way to Sleep in Contact Lenses

Eyeglasses and standard contact lenses help children and teens with myopia (nearsightedness) see better, but do nothing to slow myopia’s progression. In contrast, orthokeratology (ortho-k) slows down myopia using custom-fitted gas-permeable contact lenses designed to be worn overnight.

How OrthoK Works

A comprehensive explanation of the mechanics of ortho-k.

Atropine Therapy for Myopia Management

Atropine therapy are prescription eye drops that have been shown to stop or slow down the progression of myopia (nearsightedness).

Ortho-K Lenses | What Is the Cost of Great Vision?

Ortho-k contact lenses are among the finest contact lenses on the market, made with superior quality materials and completely personalized to each eye for an exclusively customized visual experience. Their cost, while higher than standard lenses, are worth it in the long run. Here’s why.

Orthokeratology for Athletes

Ortho-k overnight lenses provide a perfect solution for athletes with myopia. They eliminate the need for wearing glasses or contact lenses during the day while ensuring stable, clear vision and safety when playing sports.

Can Too Much Screen Time Impact Children’s Health and Vision?

The overuse of digital media in today’s day and age is not without concern, especially for children. While these devices have improved our lives in many ways, certain physical and mental problems can result from overexposure to screens. By following the following measures and tips, you’ll keep your tech-savvy child seeing clearly and feeling healthy.

Vision Correction

Vision Correction is used to correct refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (when light enters the eye incorrectly), or presbyopia (farsightedness due to aging). Read on to learn all about surgery-free vision correction.

Myopia Management Blog

Keep Up-To-Date with our Myopia Management Blog!

How Is Myopia Dangerous? Isn’t It Just Inconvenient?

Myopia progression in children dramatically increases the risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life, such as cataracts, retinal detachments, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

Ortho-K, a Little Known Contact Lens Alternative for Athletes

Myopia Management Resources

The prevalence of myopia in the world is growing at high rates. Scientists are researching the reasons and treatment methods all over the world. Find here a list of recent relevant studies concerning myopia management.

Ortho-k in Myopia Management Resources

Myopia Management Quiz

Take the Myopia Questionnaire to assess the symptoms of your eyes that could be hindering the quality of your vision.

Why You Should Care About Myopia

Myopia is the most common and rapidly proliferating vision problem in children today. High levels of myopia increase the risk of developing severe sight-threatening eye diseases later in life. Myopia management can slow down or stop myopia progression, thus keeping your child in the safe zone.