Table of Contents
Introduction
If most of your life you’ve been nearsighted, you most likely thought that its control is only something that moms and dads do for their kids, not something for adults to be concerned with. You might’ve thought that as you reach your twenties, your prescriptions are stable and no longer need to be changed. However, most people have no clue that their myopia can still be progressing and that there are various treatments available.
Here at Golden Vision, we care for patients of all ages who want to be more informed and proactive regarding their vision health. Whether your prescription has gradually become stronger over the years or you would simply like to know more about myopia, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know, including how myopia treatments work, who they’re designed for, and why their management involves more than just having clear eyesight.
What Is Myopia Control, and How Does It Work?
Myopia control is completely different from just blurry vision correction with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. Although normal prescriptions can help you see more clearly, these prescriptions don’t do a thing to slow down the underlying progression. Control treatments for myopia are designed to lower the rate at which eyes continue elongating. That is the specific physical change that makes one’s nearsightedness worsen as time passes.
There are a few approaches, based on good evidence that we use today, including orthokeratology (overnight reshaping lenses), low-dose atropine eye drops, multifocal contacts or eyeglasses, and spending more time outside. Each of these approaches works a bit differently, but the goals all remain the same: to preserve your vision health for the long term by keeping your prescription from getting stronger than necessary.
Why Is Myopia Control Typically Aimed at Children?
Controlling Myopia, generally associated with kids, is due to biology. Their eyes are still growing during childhood and adolescence. That is the time when myopia advances the most. An early intervention during the time that the eye is still developing gives the best opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
Research has proven that when children’s myopia control starts at a younger age, they have a greater reduction in its progression as opposed to kids whose treatment begins later. The sooner that treatment begins, the more its progression can probably be prevented. This is such a huge benefit when you realize that adults with higher levels of myopia exhibit a direct link to serious eye diseases later on in life.
Does Myopia Actually Stop Progressing in Adults?
Many people believe that myopia is stabilized when people get into their early twenties; however, this usually isn’t true. Although progression does indeed seem to slow after the teen years, for a great number of people, adults continue seeing their prescriptions getting stronger even as they enter their twenties and later.
Adult-onset myopia is a concern, especially with those who spend many hours looking at their electronic screens or doing close work. The demands upon our eyesight in this modern world can contribute to continuing axial elongation, even in older people’s eyes. If you’ve become aware that your prescription has changed during the past few yearly checkups, something should be telling you that your myopia is still not stable, and you will most likely benefit from a more proactive type of care.
Are Any Myopia Control Treatments Approved or Effective for Adults?
There are a few options for controlling myopia that we use in our adult clients, although the research base is stronger for children. This is the way treatments translate to care for older adults:
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): Lenses worn overnight by adults that reshape the cornea. They correct vision, are convenient, and have the ability to slow progression while eyes continue to change.
- Low-dose atropine drops: Presently are used off-label for adults, as current research suggests they’re beneficial for the documented progression population. Additional research studies are still needed.
- Multifocal contact lenses and glasses: Generally prescribed for grown-ups. Although their use in the adult population has not been studied as much as for kids, they still are a good option for managing progression.
- Lifestyle modifications: Being outside more and having more breaks from close-up work are highly beneficial for all ages and have absolutely no risk.
The best treatment will consider your personal history – for example, how fast your prescription seems to change and, of course, your own lifestyle needs. It is the myopia management specialist who can help you decide which option works best for you.
What Are the Real Benefits of Myopia Control for Adults?
Although slowing myopia’s progression in adults is not as significant as in children, the results are still quite dramatic. Someone with high myopia needing a prescription of more than 6.00 diopters has a significant lifetime risk of developing serious complications such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and myopic macular degeneration. Slowing the progression even a trifle can mean the difference between having moderate and high myopia, which can result in a lower risk later in life.
In addition to health issues, there are other benefits as well. When your prescription is kept stable, it lowers the amount of time and the resulting cost of keeping your lens prescriptions current. It may also give you a better opportunity to be a candidate for a future procedure like LASIK. Stop thinking of myopia control as a child-only intervention; reframe it as a lifetime strategy to protect your vision, a worthwhile investment to consider right now.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Adult Myopia Control?
Not all adults with myopia need to have a specialized control program, but a few issues mean you might improve with one. You may be a good candidate if:
- Your prescription needs to be changed after at least two yearly checkups
- You had a myopia diagnosis as a kid, and its progression continued as you grew up
- There’s a history in your family of high myopia or an eye disease related to it
- You spend a great deal of time looking at your digital screens or doing close work for a considerable amount of time
- The prescription you now have is moderate to high. Any additional progression would put you at additional risk.
Step #1 is having a comprehensive eye exam. It should include going over your prescription history. From that point, your eye care specialist will be able to determine if your myopia is stable or still active. From there, you will be presented with the treatment plan best suited to your condition.
What Should Adults Do if They're Concerned About Their Myopia?
Not assuming that your myopia has stabilized because you’re not in your teens anymore is the first thing to keep in mind. Take a good look at your last few prescriptions and see if there have been any significant changes, important enough to discuss with your eye doctor at your next comprehensive eye exam. If you do not already have an eye care provider specializing in myopia management, now is a good time to find one.
At the appointment, ask questions about myopia progression and find out if there are any controlling strategies appropriate for you. Be sure to be prepared to ask questions regarding your options as well as the risks connected to your present prescription level. If you are proactive now, you can make a meaningful reduction in your risk of developing serious vision problems in the future.
When Should You Schedule an Appointment at Golden Vision for Myopia Control?
The right time is when your prescription for glasses or contacts has changed in the last year or so, if you found out that you have moderate or even high myopia, or if you’ve never even discussed myopia management with your doctor, instead of just correcting it. Controlling myopia isn’t just a course of treatment for kids. Here at Golden Vision, we assess and care for our adult patients who want to be more proactive in protecting their eyesight for the long term.
Don’t delay until your prescription gets higher before you ask the important questions! Schedule an appointment with our Golden Vision team today to learn if a myopia control plan is the right thing for you. Taking action early, regardless of your age, is better than putting it off.