Myopia and Myopia Control: Protecting Your Family’s Vision at Perspective Optometry

At Perspective Optometry, we specialize in Myopia Control solutions for the Greater Vancouver Area. We understand that myopia (nearsightedness) is more than just an inconvenience; it's a significant health concern. The rise of myopia is so widespread that the World Health Organization has called it a global epidemic, and we are seeing its effects firsthand—myopia incidence has doubled in Canada since the 1990s.  

Dr. Randhawa is committed to providing long-term, evidence-based treatment plans to slow or stop myopia progression, protecting your vision and future eye health.

 

Understanding Myopia and Its Risks

What is Myopia?

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is a refractive error where the eye focuses light in front of the retina. This occurs primarily because the eyeball becomes abnormally elongated (measured as axial length). This elongation is often rapid, particularly in children, a process known as myopia progression.   

 

Why Myopia Progression is Dangerous

 

As the eyeball lengthens, the delicate internal structures, such as the retina, are stretched and thinned. This stretching is the reason why patients with myopia are at increased risk of severe eye diseases that may result in permanent vision loss.   

High myopia significantly elevates the lifetime risk for conditions including:

  • Retinal Detachments

  • Myopic Maculopathy (damage to the central retina)   

  • Peripheral Retinal Degeneration

  • Glaucoma (damage to the optic nerve)

  • Choroidal Neovascular Membrane (abnormal blood vessel growth)

What Causes Myopia to Rise?

Myopia is on the rise worldwide due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors:   

  • Genetics: We estimate that about one in four parents have a child with myopia.

  • Lifestyle: The primary environmental drivers include increasing near-work demands (e.g., screens, reading) and decreased time spent outdoors.   

     

Our Approach to Myopia Control

If your child's glasses prescription goes up every time they visit the eye doctor, they require myopia control.

Why Glasses Alone Are Not Enough

Standard single-vision glasses or contact lenses only correct vision while worn; they do not treat the underlying elongation of the eyeball or slow the progression of myopia. They simply enable the patient to see clearly until the myopia worsens and a stronger prescription is needed.   

Fortunately, new therapies based on robust scientific evidence are highly effective at slowing or stopping progression. Dr. Randhawa has an extensive myopia control practice and develops personalized, long-term treatment plans to ensure your health isn't deteriorating.   

Myopia Control Treatment Options

The primary goal of any treatment is to slow the progression of nearsightedness while ensuring comfort. Treatment plans are tailored based on the patient's age, severity of myopia, and lifestyle.  

Myopia control is typically addressed through the following scientifically-backed avenues:

  1. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): A safe, drug-free treatment where specially designed gas-permeable contact lenses are worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea. This provides clear vision during the day and has been widely studied for its efficacy in controlling myopia progression.

  2. Pharmaceutical Interventions: Low-dose atropine eye drops are a commonly used, effective pharmacological option to slow eye elongation.   

  3. Soft Multifocal Contact Lenses: Specially designed soft contact lenses and prescription modifications create an optical effect that signals the eye to slow its growth.   

  4. Vision Therapy: In some cases, we may incorporate vision therapy to address underlying focusing or eye teaming issues contributing to the progression.

Scientific Evidence for Myopia Control

The field of myopia control has rapidly advanced over the last decade, with strong evidence supporting these active interventions. Recent studies consistently demonstrate their effectiveness: 

  • Atropine Efficacy: A systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed that low-concentration atropine drops (0.01%–0.05%) are effective in slowing myopia progression and axial elongation in children, with the 0.05% concentration showing superior efficacy in many studies (Luo et al., 2021; Yam, et al., 2023).   

  • Optical Solutions: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that both multifocal contact lenses (soft and Ortho-K) and specialized spectacle lens designs (e.g., DIMS, HAL) significantly reduce the rate of myopia progression compared to standard single-vision lenses in children and adolescents (Lam et al., 2021; Sankaridurg et al., 2021).   

  • HOYA MiYOSMART lenses are an innovative, non-invasive spectacle lens solution for managing childhood myopia, utilizing patented Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (D.I.M.S.) Technology.  This design features a central clear zone for correcting the child's distance vision, surrounded by a treatment zone consisting of hundreds of tiny segments with a relative plus power.  This technology simultaneously provides clear central vision while creating myopic defocus in the periphery, a signal that has been clinically proven to slow the excessive elongation of the eyeball.  Clinical trials, including a six-year follow-up study, have shown that MiYOSMART lenses reduce myopia progression by an average of 60% compared to standard single-vision lenses, demonstrating a sustained effect over time with no rebound effect upon discontinuation (Lam et al., 2021; Lam et al., 2022).  This makes MiYOSMART an excellent spectacle-based treatment option for children who are not candidates for or prefer not to use contact lenses or eye drops.

  • Lifestyle Factors: Research continues to support that spending more time outdoors (at least two hours daily) is a proven, protective factor against both the onset and progression of myopia (Huang et al., 2021; Jonas et al., 2020).

Take Control of Your Eye Health

Don't allow misinformation or the belief that "it's just a bad prescription" to compromise your family's future eye health. The best defense is to be informed and proactive.

At Perspective Optometry, we go above and beyond a standard comprehensive eye exam. We will work with you to help you understand your diagnosis, mitigate future risks, and provide a long-term myopia treatment plan that complements your lifestyle.

Book An Appointment Do you suspect that you or your child suffers from myopia, or are you looking for a long-term treatment program? Perspective Optometry is here to help.

You can book online or call (604) 435-3931 to schedule your routine, comprehensive eye exam and consultation.