WHAT IS MYOPIA?

In a typical eye, light enters through the front and lands directly on the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye). This creates a crisp image.

With Myopia, one of two things is usually happening:

1. The eyeball is too long: It’s shaped more like a grape or an olive than a perfect sphere.

2. The cornea is too curved: The clear front window of your eye is "steeper" than it should be.

Because of this, the light rays bend too much and focus at a point in front of the retina instead of right on it. By the time the light actually hits the retina, it has spread back out, making the image look blurry.

HOW DOES MYOPIA FEEL TO YOU?

The "Sweet Spot": You can see things up close (like a book or your phone) perfectly fine because the light from close objects naturally focuses further back in the eye.

1. The "Blur Zone": Anything far away—like a TV screen, a road sign, or a chalkboard—looks fuzzy or washed out.

2. The Squint: You might find yourself squinting subconsciously. This slightly changes the shape of your eye and cuts out extra light, trying to force that focus point back onto the retina.

WHY IS MYOPIA DANGEROUS IN CHILDREN?

1. The "Stretched Balloon" Effect: Just like a balloon gets fragile as you blow it up, a stretched retina is more prone to tearing or pulling away (detachment), which can cause permanent vision loss.

2. Higher Risks of Eye Diseases Later: A child with "high myopia" (a heavy prescription) isn't just dealing with thicker glasses; they are at a significantly higher risk for serious conditions in adulthood, including: glaucoma, cataracts, and myopic maculopathy.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR MYOPIA MANAGEMENT?

1. Specialized Spectacle Lenses (Essilor’s Stellest Lenses): Uses concentric rings of aspherical lenslets. Studies show they can slow progression by about 60%.

2. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): These are rigid, "breathable" lenses worn only overnight to reshape the cornea. The child removes them in the morning and can see clearly all day without glasses or contacts. This temporary reshaping also provides the optical signal needed to slow eye growth.

3. Multifocal Soft Contact Lenses (MiSight Contacts): Currently the first and only FDA-approved soft contact lens for myopia control. It has been shown to slow progression by an average of 59% over three years.