Is your child’s vision getting worse every year?
For kids ages 5-15 who frequently need stronger distance glasses, and who have a family history of nearsightedness, there are options to slow the progression by 50% which is significant. An eye drop can be given at bedtime, or wearing contact lenses may slow this worsening.
While glasses help your child see clearly, they don’t stop the underlying problem. Without treatment vision continues to worsen each year with 15% of nearsighted children becoming highly nearsighted. This high prescription increases the risk of serious eye diseases later in life including glaucoma and retinal detachment.
Treatment options include eye drops, contact lenses or a combination of both.
Atropine eye drops
- Used safely for many years
- One drop at bedtime
- Minimal side effects
- Glasses are still needed, but prescriptions change less often
Soft Contact lenses
- MiSight® daily disposable contact lenses – FDA-approved specifically for children ages 8-12 to slow myopia progression
By slowing how fast your child’s vision worsens with treatment, we’re preventing the need for thicker glasses and preserving their independence and quality of life. There’s a huge difference between a child who can confidently handle life’s unexpected moments and one who feels helpless without their glasses. With mild vision problems, broken glasses are annoying. With severe vision problems, broken glasses are a crisis.
Moderate Myopia (-2 to -3 prescription):
- What they can see: Your child can see clearly about 12-16 inches away without glasses
- Real life: They can read their phone, see their alarm clock, navigate around the house safely and recognize faces across a room
- Independence: Your child can handle daily activities and emergencies even if glasses break or are lost meaning they’re not helpless without them
High Myopia (-6 to -8+ prescription without treatment):
- What they can see: Your child can only see clearly about 6-8 inches away without glasses
- Real life: They’d need to hold their phone almost touching their nose, couldn’t see their alarm clock from bed, and faces become blurry just a few feet away
- Dependence: Your child becomes completely dependent on glasses or contacts and losing them creates genuine hardship. They can’t function safely without wearing glasses or contacts.
Talk to your eye doctor about whether your child may benefit from treatment, and then schedule an appointment with Dr. Burgett or Dr. Maxwell. This program represents ESA’s commitment to providing leading-edge pediatric eye care and protecting your child’s vision for the future.
Learn More About Myopia Management
Dr. Karsen Maxwell is an optometrist specializing in pediatric eye care practicing at our Rock Island and Bettendorf clinics. Dr. Sarah Burgett specializes in myopia management and contact lenses and sees patients in Rock Island.
The material contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
