Myopia (Nearsightedness)

 Myopia (Nearsightedness) refers to a condition in which you can clearly see objects that are close to you (a book, recipts at a restaurant, et al), but cannot see distant objects clearly (road signs, far off faces). Myopia is the result of a Refractive Problem and is the inability of the eye to focus on the retina. If you have Myopia, your cornea and lens have too much focusing power, bending light rays to meet at a point in front of the retina. Glasses and contacts are a type of eye care that compensate for this condition by subtracting power from the eye’s natural focus and allowing light rays to focus further back on the retina.

High myopia (severe nearsightedness) stretches and thins the eyeball, which significantly increases your risk of developing a retinal detachment or tear making early intervention crucial.

By 2050, roughly 50% of the world population (nearly 5 billion people) will have myopia, or nearsightedness.

If you find that you are able to see objects clearly close up, but have difficulty seeing objects clearly at a distance, please consult NCEENT.

Myopia in Children

Children and young adults with a parent who is myopic (near-sighted) are more likely to be myopic themselves. Additionally, children who spend more time on near activities such as reading, screen time, and less outdoor activity are more likely to develop blurry vision for far away objects and be near sighted, while also increasing the risk of developing more serious eye diseases. Our team of pediatric ophthalmologists can help.

Treatment for Child Myopia

North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat's pediatric ophthalmology team is focused on controlling and slowing the progression of myopia or near-sightedness in children. Left untreated, myopia can significantly increase the risks for serious eye conditions beyond blurred vision. The experts at NCEENT prescribe innovative treatments that have been shown to slow the progression and improve the long-term health of children’s eyes. Myopia Management Options

Multifocal Soft Contact  Lenses	Specialized soft contact lenses worn during the day to slow the progression of eye elongation caused by myopia. These lenses have been proven safe and effective in children as a method of managing myopia.
Atropine Prescription Eye Drops	Low-dose atropine eye drops are an effective approach to slow the progression of myopia in children and adolescents. It is a daily drop that is safe. This treatment option can be combined with other methods to potentially enhance the myopia control. These eye drops are prescribed by your optometrist and purchased from a specialty pharmacy.
Orthokeratology (ortho-k)	Orthokeratology (or ortho-k) uses hard contact lenses that are worn overnight to temporarily reshape the surface of the eye and provide clear vision in the daytime without any spectacles or contact lenses.

If you find that your child is able to see objects clearly close up, but has difficulty seeing objects clearly at a distance, please consult our Pediatric Optometrist.

North Carolina ENT has offices in Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Roxboro for treatment of Myopia (Nearsightedness).

Contact us today! Make an appointment at one of our nearby offices, to discuss treatment options.