Myopia Control | Focus West Optometry

Success Begins With Sight

Myopia is a growing concern for children around the world and it’s on the rise around the world. More than 30% of Canadians currently have myopia and more children are diagnosed daily.

Also known as nearsightedness, myopia makes objects in the distance appear blurry while close-up items remain in focus.

Children’s eye exams are very important—roughly 75% of children with myopia received a diagnosis before the age of 12. Catching the condition early on can help us control it, setting your child up for success in the future.

There is no cure for myopia, but we can slow its progression and make things a little easier for your child. Book their appointment to test for myopia today!

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Why Myopia Matters

Proper eyesight is important for learning. Children might struggle to see in school, or have a difficult time reading and writing as a result of poor vision. They may also be slow to develop social behaviours and could be misdiagnosed with behavioural problems.

Language and speech development may also be impacted by myopia. Children learn to speak by watching facial expressions and seeing lips move, so their sight really is a key component.

Severe myopia can also lead to more serious conditions later on. The risk of retinal detachment, cataracts, and open-angle glaucoma are all increased in people with high myopia.

Corrective lenses are needed for good vision people with myopia. But, early identification of myopia can help to control the condition and slow its progression.

Book your child’s appointment now to test for myopia and other vision conditions.

Causes of Myopia

Myopia is a refractive error that develops during childhood and throughout the teenage years. Vision usually stabilizes around the age of 20.

Normally, light enters the eye and gets focused on the retina, travelling through the optic nerve and to the brain, which interprets the signals. People with myopia have either an eyeball that is too long or a cornea that is too curved, causing light to focus improperly on the retina and making faraway objects appear blurry.

There is no definitive answer as to the causes of myopia, but it can be hereditary. Too much time inside focused on near work or using screens is also thought to cause the progression of myopia.

The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that parents encourage children to spend time outdoors. Studies suggest that time spent outdoors may reduce the risk of developing nearsightedness—around 76 minutes per day of outdoor plan is needed to reduce myopia development by half.

Book an appointment for your child today to learn more about our myopia control methods.

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