Myopia Management

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is one of the most common vision problems in the world, and it’s on the rise. In myopic eyes, close objects are clear, but distance vision becomes blurry. This happens when the eye is too long or the cornea has too much curvature, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it.

Today, more than 47 million Americans over age 20 are affected by myopia. According to the National Eye Institute, the prevalence of myopia in the U.S. has increased by more than 66% since the 1970s. For children, the trend is accelerating even faster.

What Causes Myopia?

For years, myopia was considered mostly hereditary. But new research shows that visual stress, such as excessive reading, screen use, and close-up tasks, also contributes to its development and progression.

Myopia typically begins during childhood and may worsen through adolescence. Adults can also develop myopia due to lifestyle demands or health conditions such as diabetes.

Symptoms of
Myopia

Blurry distance vision (difficulty reading signs or seeing the board at school)
Squinting or frequent eye rubbing
Eye strain or headaches
Holding books or screens very close
Vision complaints during sports or schoolwork

Why Myopia Control Matters

Corrective lenses help you see clearly, but they don’t slow the progression of myopia. That matters, because high myopia is associated with greater lifelong risk of:

Retinal detachment
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Myopic macular degeneration

Myopia control is most effective when started early, typically between ages 6 and 14, before the eyes stabilize. That’s why we focus on myopia control, not just correction. Our goal is to help protect long-term eye health.

How We Manage Myopia

When the eye grows too long (axial elongation), it causes distant objects to appear blurry. This is a condition known as myopia, also referred to as nearsightedness. Research indicates that this eye growth may be triggered by a signal from the brain, often associated with prolonged near work, such as reading or screen time. If we can create what’s called “peripheral myopic defocus,” we can reduce that signal and help slow the progression of myopia.
To combat myopia, we offer a few effective, non-surgical therapies.

Orthokeratology
(Ortho-K)

Orthokeratology lenses are custom, gas-permeable contacts worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea.

Provides clear, glasses-free vision during the day
FDA-approved for myopia control
Best for children over age 7 with low to moderate myopia
Ideal for active kids or those involved in sports

Read studies on orthokeratology and myopia control.

Dual Focus Contact Lenses

These soft contact lenses feature alternating zones that correct vision while simultaneously creating peripheral defocus to slow eye growth.

We offer two options:

MiSight® 1 day

First and only FDA-approved soft lens for slowing myopia progression
Approved for children ages 8–12 at the start of treatment

NaturalVue® Multifocal

A one-day multifocal contact lens used off-label for myopia control

Well-suited for children as young as age 7

Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops

Atropine is a medicated eye drop that works by reducing the chemical signals that trigger eye elongation.

Used in very low concentrations (typically 0.01%)
Proven to slow the progression of myopia in children
Minimal side effects—most children do not experience light sensitivity or blurry vision
Often recommended as an initial treatment or in combination with other therapies

Read studies on low-dose atropine

Is My Child a Candidate?

Myopia management is most effective for children and teens between the ages of 6 and 14, but treatment may be appropriate for other ages depending on eye health and lifestyle. At Primary Eye Care Associates, we closely monitor each patient’s prescription changes, corneal shape, and overall progression using advanced diagnostics. Our team will help determine which option—Ortho-K, GVSS, or another approach—best suits your child’s needs and goals. We’ll track changes in prescription and monitor axial length and corneal topography over time to assess how well treatment works and adjust as needed.