Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is an eye condition where you can see objects close up clearly but have trouble seeing objects far away. Myopia is on the rise in Canada, with as many as 28% of Canadian children developing myopia after the age of 11. 

While it cannot be reversed, myopia can be controlled in children and managed in adults. Management of myopia involves wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct your vision.. So, yes, you can wear contact lenses if you have myopia. 

In fact, some contact lenses can even temporarily reshape your eye, allowing you to see clearly without glasses or contact lenses for short periods. But the most important part of myopia control is finding the solution that works for you. 

What Is Myopia?

Myopia occurs when your eye doesn’t focus light properly onto your retina, the tissue at the back of the eye that sends visual signals to the brain. This can happen when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light in front of the retina instead of directly onto it. This misfocusing of light causes faraway objects to look blurry.

Myopia is common both in Canada and across the world. As many as 1 in 3 Canadian adults and 28% of Canadian children have myopia. Some potential reasons for this trend include a lack of exposure to natural light and the amount of “near work” people do during work and school hours.  

Myopia tends to appear in childhood. After appearing, it may worsen as a child ages. The condition tends to stabilize in adulthood when the eye stops growing.

Since myopia can be slowed down and controlled in children, it’s important to diagnose and treat myopia early. Early treatment can slow the condition’s progression, allowing for better vision in adulthood. 

How Is Myopia Treated?

There are a variety of myopia controls and treatments available. Some treatments are used in childhood as a form of myopia control. Other treatments, like laser eye surgery, are used in adulthood to correct myopia. To find the option that best suits you, contact your optometrist. 

Contact Lenses

For adults, prescription contact lenses can be used as an alternative to prescription glasses to correct myopia. Contact lenses are a good option for individuals who don’t want to wear eyeglasses. 

For children, contact lenses can be used to slow the progression of myopia. For instance, MiSight contact lenses can help your child see clearly and slow down how fast a child’s eyes grow. This helps reduce elongation of the eye, which slows the progression of myopia. 

Orthokeratology 

Orthokeratology, or ortho-k lenses are special contact lenses that are worn at night. Ortho-k lenses are rigid and work to reshape the cornea temporarily while you sleep. Ortho-k lenses are a great option for individuals who don’t want to wear glasses or contacts during the day and also don’t want to undergo eye surgery. 

Both adults and children can use Ortho-K lenses for their myopia. However, for ortho-k lenses to be effective, they must be worn regularly. 

Eyeglasses

Glasses, like contact lenses, are a great way to correct for myopia in adults. Prescription glasses can help you see clearly. The right frames can also help you feel confident and allow you to skip out on the hassle that contacts sometimes cause.  

For children, eyeglasses can control and slow down myopia progression in children. Stellest and MiYOSMART lenses work similarly to MiSight contacts to slow down the growth of a child’s eyes.

Glasses are a great alternative for children who find wearing contacts uncomfortable. 

Eye Drops

Sometimes, low doses of Atropine eye drops can be used to slow myopia progression. Atropine drops can be used for myopia in children.

Laser Eye Surgery

Laser Eye Surgery involves reshaping the cornea with lasers. This allows the cornea to reflect light properly onto the retina at the back of the eye. Laser eye surgery is a great option for adults who don’t want to wear glasses or contacts. 

The laser eye surgery procedure you receive depends on your eyes and your needs. Some laser eye surgeries involve implanting a thin contact lens onto the cornea. Other surgeries use lasers to shape the cornea itself.

Find the Right Solution For You

Since there are so many options for dealing with myopia, finding the right one may seem daunting. Luckily, your optometrist can help you make decisions that fit your lifestyle and eye care needs. At Dr. Zargar Eyecare, our team uses a variety of treatments to slow down and control myopia in adults and children. 

Everyone’s eye care needs are different, and the first step to managing myopia is to see your optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam. Dr. Zargar Eyecare offers eye exams for both adults and children, so book an appointment with us today for you and your family.