Regular eye checkups are vital for maintaining optimal vision and ensuring that any concerns are addressed before they escalate.
Risk Factors of Myopia
Parents should be aware that children with myopia face higher risks as they grow older, including glaucoma, retinal tears, or myopic degeneration. Addressing this early is crucial to protecting lifelong vision.
Our Myopia Management Tools
Axial Length Measurements
Tracks eye growth, a key indicator of myopia progression.
Topography Monitoring
Charts changes in corneal shape over time.
Soft Contact Lenses
Options such as Misight lenses offer a great start to myopia control in children.
Eyespace Ortho-K Lenses
Worn overnight to alter the cornea epithelial cell shape temporarily, providing clear daytime vision and slowing myopia progression. Ortho-K, or orthokeratology, is the gold standard of myopia control, a reversible process of correcting your eye’s prescription while you sleep using specially designed contact lenses.
Specialized Eyeglass Lenses
Options such as Zeiss MyoCare and Essilor Stellest effectively reduce the speed of myopia worsening.
Optometrist Natasha Pieterse’s extensive training enhances our ability to offer cutting-edge solutions for myopic children.
Myopia Control and Orthokeratology at Pieterse Optometrists
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common refractive error that causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects remain clear. This condition is becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly among children, due to factors such as increased screen time and reduced outdoor activities. At Pieterse Optometrists, we take a proactive approach to managing and slowing the progression of myopia, helping to protect lifelong vision and reduce the risk of associated complications.
Understanding Myopia and Its Risks
Myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This results in blurred distance vision. While myopia can often be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, it is important to address its progression, especially in children, to prevent more serious eye health issues later in life.
Risk Factors of Myopia
Parents should be aware that children with myopia face higher risks as they grow older, including:
Glaucoma
Myopic individuals are at an increased risk of developing glaucoma, a condition characterized by increased pressure in the eye that can lead to optic nerve damage and vision loss if not managed properly.
Retinal Tears and Detachment
The elongated shape of a myopic eye can lead to thinning of the retina, increasing the risk of retinal tears or detachment, which are serious conditions that require immediate medical attention.
Myopic Degeneration
High levels of myopia can lead to degenerative changes in the retina, known as myopic degeneration, which can significantly impact vision and quality of life.
Addressing myopia early is crucial to protecting lifelong vision and minimizing these risks. Our comprehensive myopia management program is designed to slow the progression of myopia and reduce the likelihood of these complications.
Our Myopia Management Tools
At Pieterse Optometrists, we utilize a range of advanced tools and techniques to manage myopia effectively. Our approach is tailored to the individual needs of each patient, ensuring optimal outcomes and long-term eye health.
Axial Length Measurements
Tracking eye growth is a key indicator of myopia progression. We use precise axial length measurements to monitor changes in the length of the eyeball over time. This information helps us assess the risk of myopia progression and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
Topography Monitoring
Corneal topography charts changes in the shape of the cornea over time. This tool provides valuable insights into the structural changes associated with myopia and helps us tailor our treatment strategies to each patient’s unique needs.
Ortho-K Lenses
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) involves the use of specially designed contact lenses worn overnight . Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K for short, is a non-surgical and reversible procedure in which custom designed contact lens are used to gently reshape the cornea epithelial layer of your eye. Since the epithelial layer shape is altered in a non-permeant way, It is also known as Corneal Reshaping Technology (CRT). The forge ortho k lenses are worn while sleeping, removed on awakening and giving you clear vision during the day without the aid of glasses or contact lenses. Orthokeratology can correct spectacle refractive errors like nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism and can even slightly improve near vision after age 42 (presbyopia).
This non-surgical approach provides clear daytime vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses and has been shown to slow the progression of myopia in children. Ortho-K lenses are custom-fitted to each patient’s eyes, ensuring comfort and effectiveness.
Specialized Eyeglass Lenses
We offer specialized eyeglass lenses, such as Zeiss MyoCare and Essilor Stellest, which are designed to effectively reduce the speed of myopia worsening. These lenses incorporate innovative designs that help control the way light enters the eye, reducing the stimulus for eye elongation and slowing myopia progression.
The Role of Optometrist Natasha Pieterse
Optometrist Natasha Pieterse’s extensive training and expertise enhance our ability to offer cutting-edge solutions for children. Natasha is passionate about kids, their vision and their cognitive brain function development. Her commitment to staying at the forefront of paediatric vision correction related ensures that our patients receive the most advanced and effective care available. Natasha also has extensive experience in retinal pathology and understanding of age related eye conditions.
20
Years of Experience in Eye Care
The Benefits of Myopia Control in children and young people
Effective myopia control offers numerous benefits for children and their families, including:
Improved Vision Quality
By slowing the progression of myopia, our management strategies help maintain better vision quality and reduce the need for frequent changes in prescription eyewear.
Reduced Risk of Complications
Slowing myopia progression reduces the risk of developing serious eye health issues later in life, such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, and myopic degeneration.
Enhanced Quality of Life
Clear vision without the constant need for corrective lenses can enhance a child’s quality of life, allowing them to participate more fully in activities and experiences.
Long-Term Eye Health
Our proactive approach to myopia management supports long-term eye health, helping to preserve vision and prevent complications that could impact a child’s future.