While common treatments such as glasses and contacts can correct vision, they do not slow the progression of myopia—something that becomes crucial when patients pass a certain threshold.
“Once [a patient’s prescription] goes above a -3.00, the risk factors for developing retinal detachments, macular degeneration, glaucoma and different eye diseases ... increase exponentially,” optometrist Dr. Eric Hammond said.
In fact, studies show that children with low myopia have a four times greater risk of retinal detachment than those without myopia. Additionally, children with moderate to severe myopia are 10 times more likely to develop retinal detachment in their lifetime.
How to treat myopia
Lakeline Vision Source uses a suite of advanced, non-invasive technology to track changes in vision and tailor treatment for each patient. One machine, called an axial biometer, measures how much the eye is growing, an important metric in determining how effective treatment has been.
There are three main therapies available at Lakeline Vision Source:
- Bifocal (multifocal) soft contact lenses
- Ortho-keratology (CRT) lenses worn overnight
- Low-dose atropine eye drops
Bifocal contact lenses for myopia management work by creating a peripheral defocus effect. This slows the elongation of the eye, which also slows the progression of nearsightedness.
Ortho-keratology (CRT) lenses gently reshape the cornea to alter how light enters the eye overnight.
“By flattening the cornea, we are correcting the vision centrally,” Dr. Hammond said.
This change also causes peripheral defocus, which slows elongation of the eye and myopia progression.
The third method, atropine drops, works chemically instead of mechanically.
The exact mechanism on how atropine drops work is not completely understood, but it is believed that the atropine affects certain receptors in the eye which slows the growth of the eye.
Many times, a patient’s doctor might add atropine to ortho-keratology (CRT) lenses or to bifocal contact lenses to increase effectiveness.
Why early detection and treatment matter
Treatments are typically recommended starting in childhood and may continue into early adulthood, especially for students doing extensive near work, such as college-level reading and computer use.
Early signs of myopia can be difficult for parents to spot, which is why Lakeline Vision Source encourages early screenings.
“Bring [your child] in at age four, whether they have complaints or not, because you never know,” Dr. Hammond said. “They won't complain about their distance [vision] until they get into third or fourth grade, where they're actually sitting in the back of classrooms.”
The results and long-term benefits of myopia management speak for themselves.
“Research shows that [treatment] slows the progression [of myopia] anywhere from 70-80%,” Dr. Hammond said. “If [a patient] was going to have a -10.00 [prescription], they would only have a -3.00 [prescription].”
For families unsure about getting started, the clinic’s advice is clear: don’t wait.
“I don't think anybody who is doing the treatment ... would ever look back and say, ‘I regret doing that,’” Dr. Hammond said.
Financial assistance
While prices vary depending on individual needs, the clinic provides interest-free payment plans through CareCredit to make treatment more accessible.
Lakeline Vision Source, located at 3419 El Salido Parkway Ste. 100, Cedar Park is now accepting new patients for myopia evaluations. For more information, visit lakelinevision.com or schedule an appointment here.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
