Myopia Control is used to reduce myopia progression. It helps prevent the development of myopia by strengthening the muscles in the eye, which supports the natural shape of your eye and reduces the amount of spherical aberration in your vision. Orthokeratology, Atropine eye drops, and lenses are some of the main methods of myopia control. Starting the control early can negate myopia progression and lead you to recovery. Contact our optometrist at Andrew Stone Optometry in Columbia, MO, for a diagnosis and management of your condition.
Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology or Ortho-k involves a lens that is fitted to the eye to help reshape the cornea. The optometrist maps and measures the cornea's surface, to determine the appropriate lens design for your eye. Once fitted in the eyes, the lenses flatten the center of the cornea, altering how light bends when entering your eye. Most orthokeratology lenses are worn during the night as one sleeps to flatten the cornea and removed in the morning. The lenses are often rigid gas-permeable and sturdy enough to reshape the cornea while allowing proper oxygen flow to keep the eyes healthy.
Atropine Eye Drops
Atropine eye drops temporarily reduce myopia and increase near vision by constricting the pupils. They contain atropine, which constricts the blood vessels and slows blood flow to the eyes. Atropine works by relaxing the muscles that control the size of your pupil to make it wider.
Distance-Center Multifocal Contact Lenses
These contact lenses have two different regions in their optical zones. The central region corrects seeing difficulties from afar, while the outer area reduces hyperopia defocusing, improving far-range visual acuity.
These soft lenses have varying designs. The central part may have different diameters, while the outer region has concentric gradient powers from the center to the edges of the lenses. Studies have shown that using these lenses can slow myopia development and manage eye elongation. They focus light in the front part of the peripheral retina and on the retina, giving the wearer clearer vision.
Bifocal and Multifocal Eyeglasses
Bifocals and multifocal glasses provide proper distance vision clarity when viewing objects at multiple distances. This accommodative response of these lenses helps reduce myopia progress. This method is also more effective in controlling myopia in esophoric patients.
Book a Myopic Control Appointment at Andrew Stone Optometry
At Andrew Stone Optometry in Columbia, MO, Dr. Stone will guide you through the process and determine the most appropriate approach depending on your age, prescription, and needs. At times, combining different approaches could be more helpful, leading to better control over time. Call our team today at (573) 445-7750 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.
