Myopia Management

What is Myopia (Nearsightedness)?

Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is an eye condition where objects at near are clear but objects far away are blurred. It is caused by the eye being slightly too long.

Myopia is becoming increasingly common, particularly among children, and can progress quickly. Myopia in kids tends to progress throughout childhood, and higher levels of myopia are associated with higher eye disease risks in adulthood. If your child already wears glasses, you can do something to stop their vision from worsening.

There are different severity of myopia:

• Mild myopia: -0.25 to -3.00 D
• Moderate myopia: -3.25 to -6.00 D
• High myopia: -6.00 or higher

Mild myopia typically has a much lower risk for developing eye diseases. But moderate and high myopia are associated with serious and sometimes vision-threatening complications.

Myopia management prevents risks of several eye diseases:

• Cataracts – Higher the myopia, the faster cataracts can develop when kids get older
• Glaucoma – High pressure in the eye can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve. Studies show that nearsighted people have a 2-3 x greater risk for developing glaucoma.
• Retinal detachment

While there is no cure for myopia, there are treatments available to help slow its progression.

What causes myopia progression?​

As children grow, their eyes naturally lengthen, which can cause distant objects to become increasingly blurred. This elongation shifts the focal point in front of the retina, leading to progressively stronger nearsighted prescriptions. Myopia progression is influenced by genetics, environmental factors, and modern lifestyle changes—such as increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity. At Bonney Lake Family Eye Care, we take a proactive approach to myopia management, monitoring axial length and tailoring treatments to slow progression and protect long-term eye health.

Axial Length and Myopia

Axial length is a critical factor in myopia management because it directly correlates with the progression of nearsightedness. Unlike prescription changes alone, measuring axial length allows us to track the actual elongation of the eye, which is a key indicator of long-term eye health. We can compare your child’s axial length against what is normal for a child of their age, and whether they are at a greater risk of disease.

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At Bonney Lake Family Eye Care, we use advanced technology to monitor axial length closely, ensuring that our treatment strategies—whether ortho-k, atropine drops, or specialty contact lenses—are effectively slowing myopia progression and reducing the risk of future eye diseases like retinal detachment and myopic maculopathy.

Orthokeratology