If you have myopia, you have trouble seeing things far away, but you can see nearby things clearly. This is why myopia is commonly called nearsightedness.

If you can see well enough to read what’s on your laptop or in a book, but you struggle to see what’s on the television or a movie screen, you may be nearsighted. Sometimes people with undiagnosed myopia will have headaches and eyestrain from struggling to clearly see things in the distance.

Based on a study published in 2008(link is external), experts at NIH estimate that at least 33 percent of Americans are nearsighted. According to a 2009 study(link is external) ,the number of Americans with myopia has increased significantly from the 1970s to the early 2000s.

The prevalence of myopia has also been increasing in many other countries around the world. It is particularly prominent among school-aged children living in urban areas in some Asian countries. In the past, people thought children might become myopic from spending too much time reading and writing, which require close-up vision, or from reading in poorly lit rooms.

Myopia can also be the result of a cornea that is too curved for the length of the eyeball or a lens that is too thick. For some people, their myopia may be caused by a combination of problems in the cornea, lens, and length of the eyeball.

More recent studies confirm that myopia (nearsightedness) especially in kids between 8-14 is growing at epidemic proportions.Recent studies(link is external) suggest that the increase of myopia in children could be related to a decrease in the amount of time they spend outdoors.

Orthokerotology (Ortho-K) is a non-surgical treatment plan using specially customized contact lenses to gently reshape the curvature of the eye to improve vision. This is an FDA approved non-invasive procedure that eliminates the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses.

It improves vision by gently reshaping your eye WHILE YOU SLEEP using specially designed therapeutic contact lenses. You just put the specially fitted lenses in at bedtime, and when you awake, take out the GVSS lenses and you will have clear, sharp,natural vision for your waking hours.

This safe and effective treatment can correct near-sightedness (including high prescriptions), astigmatism and presbyopia (blurred near vision).

• Slow down or stop the rate of progression of your or your child’s nearsightedness (myopia). Due to electronic devices, nearsightedness is getting worse especially in kids. By slowing the rate of progression of nearsightedness, you decrease the likelihood of serious eye complications in the long term.

• Be glasses and contacts free during the day. Play sports, go to work, study and enjoy a better quality of life without the hassles of glasses or contact lenses during the day. Videos of real patients on Ortho-K:

Atropine belongs to a class of medicines known as Anticholinergic, Antispasmodic agents. Atropine drops in low concentration have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the growth of myopia in patients. Applied in low doses once a day can help children manage their myopia. Currently Atropine drops have to be compounded at specialty pharmacies.

• Atropine drops at low dose concentrations have limited side effects and can be used by the parent to apply in the child’s eyes at bedtime. Scientific studies show that they are effective at reducing the progression of myopia.

• Parents can apply the drops for their children at bedtime. This treatment can be used on younger patients, rendering it a great option that helps slow the progression of myopia. This is especially the case when a young patient may not be able to utilize Ortho-K lenses or soft contact lenses to slow myopia progression.

Soft Lenses are an effective, non-surgical treatment to slow the progression of myopia in children, which ultimately means a reduced risk of developing sight threatening problems later on in life. Unique designs such as with dual-focused soft contact lenses have been proven to accommodate near targets and improve vision for children affected by early-onset myopia.

The lenses are easy to insert and remove, and are safe for use in children. MiSight, NaturalVue are two of the most commonly prescribed soft lenses for myopia management.

• These contact lenses are designed to help eyes automatically focus when and where they need to, so vision is sharp at every distance. Daily activities can be completed without the need for glasses. The main benefit of soft contact lenses for myopia management and myopia control is that some kids can easily insert and remove them with appropriate training.

• Parents are put at ease by this treatment as they can be integrated into their daily routines.

Studies have shown that there is a correlation of behavior in children with their increase in myopia. The correlation is with lack of outdoor play, increase in near work such as spending a lot of time online or on the handheld electronic devices such as iPad or phones. And so what we try to do as myopia management specialists at Hoot Myopia Care is to complement therapies with a Behavioral Coaching Program.

Children with myopia progression and their parents must also have commitment for naturally reducing myopia progression. Through video modules, we educate, instruct and inspire kids to increase outdoor play, reduce screen dependency and improve study posture. These are behaviors we can control. With dedication and commitment, each child enrolled in the behavioral coaching program as part of their myopia care program can become more confident and successful with their myopia management.

• Slow down or stop the rate of progression of your or your child’s nearsightedness (myopia). Due to electronic devices, nearsightedness is getting worse especially in kids. By slowing the rate of progression of nearsightedness, you decrease the likelihood of serious eye complications in the long term.

• Be glasses and contacts free during the day. Play sports, go to work, study and enjoy a better quality of life without the hassles of glasses or contact lenses during the day.