August 13, 2024

How Does High Myopia Affect Eye Health?

You probably know that myopia ? nearsightedness ? causes faraway objects to appear blurry, but have you heard of ?high myopia,? the most severe form of nearsightedness? Knowing what myopia is and how to slow…
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Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy

Girl with myopia playing outsideYou probably know that myopia ? nearsightedness ? causes faraway objects to appear blurry, but have you heard of ?high myopia,? the most severe form of nearsightedness? Knowing what myopia is and how to slow or halt its progression before it accelerates can lower your child?s risk of developing sight-threatening eye diseases later in life.

At Opto-mization NeuroVisual Performance in Victoria we offer myopia management to help preserve your child?s vision.

What Is High Myopia?

Myopia is caused by an excessively curved cornea, which is the clear, outer part of the eye. An abnormally curved cornea bends light entering the eye, causing the light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This results in blurry distance vision.

High myopia is like regular myopia except that the cornea?s curvature is more dramatic, and the cause is often hereditary. High myopia is having a refractive error of -6.00 or higher, but even children with myopia as low as -3.00 or higher are at greater risk of serious eye conditions in adulthood.

In contrast, regular myopia can arise from both genetic and environmental factors.

Will Myopia Always Get Worse?

Myopia often progresses in childhood, and even more so when there’s a family history of nearsightedness. Given the risks associated with myopia, it?s important to schedule regular eye exams for children with myopia to detect any worsening of the condition.

Regular myopia tends to progress, especially between the ages of 7 and 18, when most kids and teens experience growth spurts. The eye grows as the body grows, so the irregular curvature of the cornea becomes more pronounced.

In 50% of all myopia cases, progression stops at around 15 years of age. However, with high myopia, the condition continues to progress until around the age of 24, and sometimes later.

High Myopia and Its Risks

High myopia can dramatically raise a child?s risk of developing the following eye conditions in adulthood:

  • Cataracts – cloudy formations on the eye (4.5x increased risk)
  • Glaucoma – optic nerve damage caused by increased pressure inside the eye (3x increased risk)
  • Retinal detachment – displacement of the retina from its support tissue (12x increased risk)
  • Myopic macular degeneration – damage to the macula, the central part of the retina (845x increased risk)
  • Pathological myopia – worsening of high myopia to the point of vision loss

All of these eye conditions can cause vision loss and may require eye surgery. Therefore, it?s essential to monitor your child?s myopia with regular comprehensive eye exams and to learn the various ways we can manage your child?s myopia.

How Myopia Management Can Help

While myopia is worrisome, there is good news: an optometrist-designed program of myopia management can slow the progression of myopia by up to 78%, and can often halt it.

The sooner a child starts a myopia management program, the better. Treating a child?s myopia in its early stages is the best way to ensure that it won?t progress to high myopia.

If you?re interested in myopia management for your child, contact us at Opto-mization NeuroVisual Performance in Victoria and schedule a comprehensive eye exam. We will determine which type of myopia management program is right for your child based on the severity of their myopia, age and other factors.

Find out how myopia management can slow myopia progression and preserve your child?s eye health and vision for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions with Scott Irvine, O.D.

Q: At what age can my child start myopia management?

A: Growth spurts can aggravate the elongation of the cornea. Therefore, myopia management can be very effective for children as young as 7-8 years old.

Q: Will Myopia Cause Blindness?

A: Myopia itself doesn?t cause blindness, but it greatly increases the risk of developing eye diseases that can cause vision loss. Myopia management, which can slow myopia progression, can reduce the risk of these sight-robbing conditions and can guard your child?s vision for the future.

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Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
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Our Nanaimo Practice
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
205-1825 Bowen Rd
Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H1
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(Do not send personal health information by email.)
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  • What is Neuro-Optometry?

    Neuro-Optometry focuses on the intricate connection between your visual system and the brain, extending beyond traditional eye care to assess functional vision. This branch of optometry examines how your eyes track, move, coordinate, and how your brain processes depth, motion, and balance. Disruptions in these functions can lead to a range of issues including headaches, migraines, dizziness, balance challenges, post-concussion symptoms, reading difficulties, and attention deficits (ADHD). By exploring these functional areas, we also identify opportunities to enhance performance in activities such as sports, reading speed, and cognitive processes.

  • What is Vision Therapy?

    At Opto-Mization, vision therapy is a specialized, personalized program aimed at improving visual skills and abilities. It goes beyond traditional vision therapy to help improve how the eyes and brain work together, addressing visual-motor and perceptual-cognitive challenges to enhance overall visual function. It’s more than just exercises; it’s a pathway to better vision and improved daily life.

  • Do you Provide Regular Eye Exams and General Optometric Services?

    Yes, alongside vision therapy and neuro-optometry, we offer comprehensive eye exams and general optometry services. Our experienced optometrists perform thorough eye exams to evaluate overall eye health, identify any eye conditions or diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses when beneficial.

  • Who is the Ideal Candidate for Vision Therapy and Neuro-Optometry?

    Vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation can help individuals of all ages. Whether you’re struggling with visual processing issues, binocular vision disorders, amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye misalignment), or have sustained a brain injury, our services might be beneficial for you. Contact us to discuss if our tailored approach can meet your specific needs and goals.

  • Do I Need a Referral to See an Optometrist at Opto-Mization?

    No, you do not need a referral for an eye exam at Opto-Mization. We welcome anyone who suspects they might benefit from our services, whether you’re experiencing symptoms of visual discomfort or just want to ensure optimal visual performance. Feel free to reach out and schedule your appointment directly with us to take the first step toward understanding and improving your visual function.

  • Do You Direct Bill Insurance?

    Yes, we offer direct billing for a variety of insurance plans to make the process as seamless and hassle-free as possible for our patients. Our knowledgeable staff is well-versed in working with insurance providers, ensuring that you can maximize your benefits while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses for our services, including vision therapy and eye exams.