Total Myopia Program

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common refractive error that affects lots of children. Myopia causes distant objects to appear blurry and our team screens for myopia in each child’s eye exam. We work with you and explore myopia control methods that can help your kids enjoy clear, healthy vision.

We are also thrilled to announce the “Total Myopia” program!

The Total Myopia medical professionals and their dedicated team employ modern technology to assess, care for, and develop tailored treatment strategies for every patient. These comprehensive strategies include:

Customized eye drops, soft multifocal contacts, and overnight lenses
A systematic approach with scheduled follow-up appointments to help sustain eye health through consistent medical oversight and management
Assessments aligned with the individualized treatment plan for each patient
Thorough training on the proper usage, insertion, and removal of contact lenses
An ongoing maintenance regimen for effective myopia control, with a focus on achieving lasting results

For myopia control in Solana Beach, visit the team of eye doctors at Total Vision

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Bring Your Child’s Vision Into Focus

Myopia is a common refractive error (an error with how the eye bends light) that causes distant objects to appear blurry while nearby objects remain clear. Commonly known as nearsightedness, myopia occurs when the shape of your eye affects the way light reaches your retina.

Myopia is one of the most common vision problems and affects nearly 30% of Americans. It’s growing increasingly more common among children, prompting continued research into methods of controlling it and slowing its progression.

At Total Vision Solana Beach, we’re devoted to preserving your child’s vision. Please reach out to us if you’re interested in learning more about controlling myopia.

What Is Myopia?

Myopia occurs when your eye is too long or your cornea is too steep. For your eye to process images clearly, light needs to land directly on the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In an eye with myopia, the shape of the eye causes light to land in front of the retina, making distant objects remain out of focus.

The exact cause of myopia isn’t known, but evidence suggests it results from a complex combination of genetics and how individuals use their eyes. Increased near work (like reading or computer work) and less time spent outdoors seem to contribute to myopia development.

Myopia in Children

Our eyes grow fastest during childhood and slow down during adolescence. Most children’s eyes stop growing when they reach the standard length, but some children’s eyes continue to grow and become myopic. Myopia generally occurs in school-aged children but can develop in children as young as 6 to 8.

Younger children who develop myopia have a higher chance of acquiring high myopia because their eyes grow over a longer period. High myopia can increase the risk of sight-threatening conditions, like:

Postponing or slowing the rate of myopia progression can prevent children from developing high myopia. Fortunately, there are several effective methods of controlling myopia in children.

Myopia Control Methods

Orthokeratology Contact Lenses

Orthokeratology (Ortho-k) involves using specialized rigid gas-permeable contact lenses to reshape the cornea, the clear dome on the front of the eye. These lenses are worn overnight, flattening the cornea and decreasing the need for glasses or contacts during the day.

Ortho-K is a non-surgical, safe, and effective method of controlling myopia progression in children as young as 6.

Atropine Eye Drops

A low dose of atropine drops has been shown to successfully reduce myopia progression in children. The exact mechanism is unclear, but is best used while the eyes are still growing.

Peripheral Defocus Contact Lenses

Peripheral defocus contact lenses are soft contacts that contain rings of various focal distances. The inner-circle provides clear vision while the outer rings create peripheral blurring. Peripheral defocus has been shown to slow myopia progression.