If your child has been diagnosed with myopia (also known as nearsightedness), you might be wondering when to start treatment to manage it. The short answer? As early as possible! Myopia tends to worsen as children grow, and without management, it can increase their risk of serious eye conditions later in life. 

At Quality Eye Clinic, we offer myopia management in Elgin, Illinois, including orthokeratology (ortho-k) and MiSight® 1 day contact lenses, to help slow myopia progression and protect your child’s long-term eye health. 

Why should myopia be managed early? 

Myopia develops when the eye grows too long, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. While glasses and traditional contact lenses can correct vision, they don’t slow down eye growth, the underlying cause of myopia. Unmanaged myopia can continue to worsen, increasing the risk of: 

• Retinal detachment – The more the eye stretches, the higher the risk. 
• Glaucoma – Myopic eyes are more prone to this pressure-related condition. 
• Early cataracts – Higher myopia can lead to cataracts forming earlier in life. 

By starting myopia management early, our eye doctors in Elgin, IL can help slow this progression and reduce these risks. 

When should my child start myopia management? 

Most children develop myopia between the ages of 6 and 12, but it can start earlier. The best time to begin myopia management is as soon as myopia is detected. Studies show that the younger a child is when treatment begins, the more effective it can be in slowing progression. 

If your child already has myopia or is showing signs of blurry distance vision, squinting, or frequently needing stronger prescriptions, it’s time to take action. 

Myopia management options at Quality Eye Clinic 

At Quality Eye Clinic in Elgin, Illinois, we offer several clinically proven treatments to help slow myopia progression in children: 

Atropine eye drops 

In low concentrations, atropine eye drops can significantly slow myopia progression in children, preventing severe nearsightedness. The eye drops are administered before the child goes to bed. While experts aren’t entirely sure why atropine eye drops slow myopia progression, they believe the eye drops prevent the eye from growing too long—one of the main causes of worsening nearsightedness. 

Orthokeratology 

Orthokeratology (or ortho-k) involves wearing special contact lenses overnight. While your child sleeps, the lenses gently reshape the cornea, so they wake up with clear vision—no need for glasses or daytime contacts! Ortho-k not only corrects vision but also helps slow down myopia progression.  

Ortho-k lenses temporarily reshape the cornea by applying light pressure, which slightly flattens the surface of the eye. This adjustment changes how light enters the eye and where images focus on the retina, helping to slow myopia progression. 

MiSight® 1 day contact lenses 

MiSight® 1 day contact lenses are soft, daily disposable lenses designed specifically for kids with myopia. They provide clear vision while also helping to slow myopia from worsening over time. These lenses are proven to reduce myopia progression by 59% over three years on average. These lenses are FDA-approved, comfortable, and easy for kids to wear—not to mention, perfect for active lifestyles! 

To learn more and discover the best treatment option for your child, schedule an appointment online today!