Myopia Management with Atropine eye drops
Myopia management with Atropine eye drops is available at Dublin Vision Development
Atropine is derived from the nightshade “belladonna” plant. It is a common ingredient in a strong dilating drop. The standard 1% concentration is also FDA approved for children as young as 3 with amblyopia ‘lazy eye’.
Eye doctors have known that 1% atropine stops the development of myopia. However, this strength causes very poor reading vision, and very large dilated pupils. No one could tolerate these effects.
In 2016, the release of the ATOM2 study showed the benefit of lower strengths of atropine (0.01%, 0.1% and 0.5%). With atropine eye drops, the benefits of slower prescription change and eye growth have to weighed against the side effects for the child (blurry near vision and light sensitivity).
Newer research shows 0.05% atropine offers the best balance. Side effects are tolerable for most children and this concentration offers a 50% effectiveness for myopia control on average. For children that are having side effects, 0.025% offers 30% treatment effect.
Myopia Management with Ortho-K
Myopia management with Euclid Ortho-K is now available at Dublin Vision Development
Euclid Ortho-K lenses are for
Children over 6 years of age
Athletes and Active Kids
Kids with healthy eyes
Proactive parents that want to prevent worsening myopia
Ortho-K is a gentle, non-surgical way to correct vision and prevent worsening myopia.
Euclid Ortho-K lenses are worn while sleeping! The lenses are made specifically for your child’s unique eyes. The lenses reduce the effect of myopia with continuous overnight wear. Similar to a custom orthodontic retainer worn overnight to correct the alignment of teeth, they work to gently reshape the cornea to correct vision while your child sleeps!
After a few weeks of treatment, your child’s eyes naturally maintain the adjusted shape. So when your child removes the Ortho-K lenses in the morning, they have clear vision all day. Your child won’t need for daytime contact lenses or glasses. To maintain the effect of myopia reduction, overnight lens wear must be continued as prescribed by your doctor.
Euclid Ortho-K treatment is ideal for children over 6 years of age, active kids and athletes who want sharp vision without glasses, and patients interested in preventing worsening myopia.
Myopia Management with MiSight
FDA approved to slow worsening myopia, MiSight lenses are available at Dublin Vision Development
Dr. Cara was one of the first optometrists certified to fit MiSight through the Brilliant Futures Program.
Previously, glasses and contact lenses were prescribed to help children with myopia see clearly. The good news is that there is now an FDA-approved soft contact lens that can correct vision and is indicated to slow the progression of myopia in children, 8-12 years of age!
Children wear the lenses at least 10 hours per day, 6 days each week to obtain the treatment effect.
Over 3 years, myopia progression reduced by 59% on average. Over a 6-year period, children wearing MiSight® 1 day progressed less than 1.00 D on average.
Myopia Screening
Is your child at risk for myopia? Have a screening of their eye length with MYAH. Testing is now available at Dublin Vision Development!
Similar to how the pediatrician tracks your child’s height and weight, we can watch your child’s eye length! The eye grows a fraction of a millimeter each year in children. Children at risk for myopia show eye growth EARLIER, and they often grow MORE QUICKLY.
Dr. Cara now offers a quick, eye drop-free was to measure your child’s eyes. In just seconds, Dr. Cara can obtain measurements and determine your child’s risk for becoming myopic, or developing worsening myopia.
Ask for MYAH Eye Length Screening at your child’s next appointment!
Protect Their Vision
#MyopiaAwarenessWeek - Limit screen time and make playing outside 90 minutes a priority every day
What can parents do?
Limit screen time
Play outside 90 minutes every day
Parents did you know that uncorrected myopia is a leading cause of preventable vision impairment? High levels of myopia increase the risk of vision problems later in life. Retinal detachment, cataracts, degeneration of the retina, and glaucoma can cause vision loss.
Myopia also has an influence on the quality of life, self esteem, and school performance of children.
Myopia Awareness Week
What is Myopia? Did you know Dr. Cara offers treatments that can slow the worsening of eyesight? Follow our posts this week!
Get your child’s eyes checked this summer
Talk to Dr. Cara about reducing your child’s risk of myopia
Myopia is an eye condition that causes blurred vision when viewing in the distance. It’s also known as nearsightedness, because people with myopia can still see things clearly that are close.
Myopia is sharply rising in rates around the world. By 2050, HALF the world’s population will be myopic. COVID lockdowns caused a surge in screen time and less time outdoors. This year, make the EYE MOVES with us to spread the word about MYOPIA.
Share our posts this week so parents and children can make healthy vision decisions. www.bhvi.org #MAW2022
Teacher's Assistant
As parents in 2020 we have a new role as ‘Teacher’s Assistant.’ With guidance from the true experts, we try to help our children navigate Google slide presentations, multiple tabs of Schoology assignments and Zoom instruction. My children would tell you that my patience as an optometrist is MUCH more than as an educator. Thrust into the role of educating our children in the spring and continuing in varying degrees this fall, I find my frustrations usually parallel those of my sons.
We have learned that their growing bodies need to move! We are all happier and able to take on the day after exercising. You will regularly see the Lai family out for ‘recess’ before starting school for the day.
I understand the impact uncorrected vision problems have on learning. I noticed my older son losing his place and re-reading the same line as we read together, around 2nd or 3rd grade. We worked together in vision therapy for a few months. After VT his reading speed and endurance improved, he also made big strides catching the ball in sports.
I share our story and the most common vision signs parents may notice during school time. If your child is complaining their eyes hurt, are seeing unusual blur or moving words, if you notice their reading improves when they point to the words, or they avoid reading - it might be a vision problem. The majority of vision trouble can be helped with vision therapy or glasses. In these times, you may see your child struggle first hand, know the signs so you can get them help. Dr. Cara
Tip #4 - Stop Squinting
I remember squinting and still not being able to see the eye chart. Then I put on my first glasses - wow - everything looked so crisp. Yet each year that clarity faded, and my lenses thickened.
I developed myopia or nearsightedness. This condition happens when the eye grows too long. It causes blurry distance vision, squinting and headaches. Glasses help the blurry vision, but not the eye growth. Left untreated myopia can cause serious ocular health problems, like cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment.
The risk for quickly progressing myopia is greatest if your child:
Has 2 nearsighted parents (50% risk) or 1 nearsighted parent (33% risk)
Became nearsighted before age 10
Plays outside less than 90-120 minutes each day
Holds reading material very close, less than 8-10 inches from their face
Is of Asian descent
Did you know there are treatments that can put the brakes on worsening nearsightedness?
Studies show specially designed contact lenses and eye drops can slow the need to change your child’s prescription and also can slow their eye growth.
I am one of the first US providers in the Brilliant Futures Program. This program centers around the MiSight contact lens device. MiSight is a daytime, single use contact lens. MiSight is the 1st FDA Approved treatment for myopia control. Children who wore these devices slowed their prescription increases by almost 60% and eye growth by over 50%.
Talk to an optometrist about the best option to manage your child’s myopia.
My only option was a pair of glasses or contact lenses. Now research shows there is so much more to offer my own children and my patients at Dublin Vision Development.
Tip #3 - Blue light facts
Ads for blue light blocking glasses FILL my Facebook feed. Children and adults spend hours looking at screens every day. With claims to lessen computer eyestrain, and to protect the eyes from harmful light, parents may consider ordering these glasses as their children begin computer learning. Here is what you need to know…
Dr. Phillip Yuhas (OSU) studies retinal cells that are sensitive to blue light and relay to our brain the brightness of our environment. Too bright of light in the evening makes it harder to fall asleep.
Blue blocking lenses only decrease a fraction of the blue light coming from your devices.
Playing outside exposes you to much higher amounts of blue light than you get from screens.
Staring at screens reduces how frequently you blink, leaving the eyes irritated and red. This eye dryness can cause eyestrain.
Looking up close for long periods of time fatigues the eye focusing and coordinating muscles, causing headaches and eye fatigue.
What should you do?
Use the ‘Night Shift’ setting and dim the overall brightness of all devices in the evening.
Push your monitor back on your desk. Hold the tablet or phone at least 16 inches from your face.
Take breaks - Review the ‘20-20-20 Rule’ from Tip #1
If you are experiencing eyestrain, make an appointment with your eye doctor to determine the cause and get help.
Blue blocking glasses probably won’t hurt your eyes, but I’m saving my money to buy something special for our new teacher.
Tip #2 - Vision is more than 20/20
Spot the signs of vision problems in your child
70% of learning is presented visually
1 in 5 preschoolers has a vision problem that can interfere with learning or behavior
Vision screenings do not identify all children with vision problems.
These are signs that your child is struggling with vision
Back to remote learning means parents will observe the strengths and struggles of their children first hand. Parents mistakenly assume their children have great vision when they read the tiny letters on the doctor’s eye chart. Clear distance eyesight is just the beginning of perfect vision.
Your child may be struggling with a vision problem that affects one of 14 eye muscles need to maintain clear vision, coordinate the eyes, or track the words in a book. Only a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist can truly tell if your child’s vision is on track for success in the classroom.
All children should have eye examinations during infancy, as preschoolers and yearly when school age.
Contact Dublin Vision Development or click the green button to schedule an appointment for your child with Dr. Cara.
TIP #1 - Screen time
Many children will be using computers, tablets, and iPad devices to supplement their learning this school year. The added technology allows your child to connect with teachers, peers and a wealth of educational resources.
As parents balance working from home, and children have increased remote learning demands; higher levels of screen time are inevitable. Follow these tips to keep all the eyes in your house happy.
Follow the 20-20-20 Rule - Take Frequent Breaks
Every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break, look 20 feet away and blink your eyes
This brief pause allows the focusing muscles in our eyes to rest and your eyes to re-hydrate
Download an App or Chrome extension to remind you it’s break time
Create an Ergonomic Home Classroom
Position your child’s computer screen slightly below eye level and at least a foot from their eyes.
Make a daily assignment board. Looking at this board prompts your child to look away from their work and provides a break for their eyes.
Offer support for their feet and back to help them maintain proper positioning
Schedule an Eye Examination
Children don’t know how they should be seeing, and don’t know to complain to their parents.
Only a comprehensive eye examination by an eye doctor can determine if your child’s vision is on track.
We hope your family has a great school year! Dr. Cara
It’s Back to School Time
The 2020 school year is about to begin. The usual back-to-school anticipation is even greater this year. Many students are beginning the year at home, on the computer or in smaller classes. This week Dr. Cara, from Dublin Vision Development, will share tips to keep your children seeing their best.
YouTube Debut
August 3rd at 8EST
Listen in to Dr. Cara on the 1st episode of Bridges produced by Fresh Takes, on Monday, August 3rd. She will have a conversation on bridging the connection between oral and eye health professionals.
Click on the link below to receive the access code