We’re well into the summer months, and our staff at Uptown Eye Care hopes everyone is enjoying getting out and experiencing the best the season has to offer!
In this blog post, we would like to remind you that summertime looks different for children affected by myopia (nearsightedness). Learn about myopia, its impact on children, and how your child with myopia can experience brighter summers with help from a myopia management plan created by our CooperVision Brilliant Futures program certified providers.
What is Myopia?
Myopia, more commonly known as nearsightedness, is a progressive eye condition that typically begins in childhood and increases in severity through the teen years and (in some cases) into early adulthood. A cornea that is too curved or an eye that is too long prevents the eye from focusing properly, making objects appear blurry at a distance.
The degree of myopia changes the most dramatically in childhood and through the teenage years. Studies also suggest that myopic progression can be aggravated by external factors such as poor screen habits, insufficient lighting while reading, or other near-work types of activities.
How Does Myopia Affect My Child?
Myopia is typically first diagnosed in school-aged children and young teens. Most of those affected can suffer academically as their nearsightedness prevents them from clearly seeing teaching aids (such as a whiteboard) and interacting with their environment to their full potential. Athletic activities and self-esteem can also be negatively impacted by the distance vision challenges created by myopia. Later in life, those with a high degree of myopia face an increased risk of ocular health challenges such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment.
More than 30% of the American population is currently estimated to struggle with nearsightedness. While myopia affects both children and adults, those over the age of 12 are not as receptive to treatments and management protocols that can help slow myopia’s progression.
The good news is that with the right management program you can reduce myopia’s impact on your child. Uptown Eye Care’s optometry team will work with you to create a myopia management regimen that focuses on slowing the progression of your child’s condition. Along with getting your child an early diagnosis and performing regular eye exams, our eye care professionals help you create a myopia control plan that reduces your child’s risk of related ocular health complications.
Slow the Progression of Myopia: CooperVision’s Brilliant Futures
In order to provide our patients with the most up-to-date myopia management information and solutions, Uptown Eye Care is proud to participate in CooperVision’s Brilliant Futures program. Brilliant Futures aims to equip health professionals with the training, tools, and patient resources to slow myopia’s progression in children 8-12 years of age. The program focuses on the role of FDA-approved MiSight 1-day soft contact lenses to shape the eye during development and to slow the progress of myopia. The goal of the Brilliant Futures program is to reduce the risk of later complications and give your child the gift of better vision both today and later in life.
Brilliant Futures: Uptown Eye Care Certified Providers
Our staff includes two optometrists certified by CooperVision’s Brilliant Futures program. Dr. Mary Gregory and Dr. Miranda Lepinski are both Brilliant Futures’ providers who are ready to supply our patients with information on the benefits of a myopia management program that includes MiSight 1-day soft contact lenses.
As pediatric vision and development specialists, Dr. Gregory and Dr. Lepinski are both well aware of the unique challenges that their young patients with myopia face. They are ready to provide you and your child with guidance and care instructions to use MiSight lenses safely and correctly. While teaching your child to correctly insert and remove the MiSight soft lenses, they will also discuss the use and benefits of the tools and apps available to you through the Brilliant Future’s program to reduce myopia’s short and long-term impact on your child.
Learn About Myopia Management with Us
While there is no cure for myopia, your child can expect a better quality of life and a reduced risk of later complications with a plan that includes early myopia management techniques and tools. Through our Brilliant Futures’ program certified providers, patients of Uptown Eye Care can have access to practical tools and insight into managing their myopia.
Give your child the gift of brighter summers ahead. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
