Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common eye condition that causes distant objects to appear blurry. When the eye grows too long or the cornea becomes too curved, it misdirects light away from the retina, the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye. This creates a blurry image when looking into the distance.
While myopia may not sound serious, it raises the risk that a child will develop sight-threatening eye problems in adulthood.
At Bright Eyes Family Eye Care in Meridian we offer myopia management to children with myopia. Call us today to schedule a consultation.
Myopia - What is the Genetic Link?
According to numerous studies, children of myopic parents have a higher risk of becoming nearsighted than children whose parents don’t have myopia.
This is especially true of rapidly advancing high myopia, the most severe form of the condition. The worse the myopia, the higher the chance of developing glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachments, and myopic macular degeneration later in life.
Myopia has reached epidemic proportions: By 2050, more than 50% of the world’s population is expected to be myopic. It is a public health crisis in the making.
What Can Be Done?
Fortunately, there are things that can be done to lessen myopia’s impact.
Myopia management is a systematic approach to slow and even halt the progression of myopia in children and teenagers. The sooner myopia management begins, the sooner it can be controlled. Although the best time to start is when a child’s myopia is still mild, children and teens with more advanced myopia can still benefit.
At Bright Eyes Family Eye Care in Meridian, we offer myopia management to children and teenagers as well as other eye care services. Call today to schedule an appointment!
Our practice serves patients from Meridian, Collinsville, Marion, and Enterprise, MS and surrounding communities.