Myopia Control
Myopia Control is the beginning of stopping nearsightedness in children, preventing their glasses from getting thicker every year, and ultimately ensuring healthy eyesight for their future.
Proudly serving the Clio, MI area.
What Is Myopia?
Nearsightedness, technically known as myopia, is a condition which causes difficulty focusing on objects at a distance, while near vision remains normal. Myopia is one of the most common vision problems worldwide and it is on the rise.
Myopia, always common in children, is an increasing problem. The number of kids who are nearsighted has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years.
The reason for this remains blurry, yet one possible culprit is the increased amount of time kids spend indoors gazing at digital screens, with limited exposure to natural light.
Many parents are alarmed by their child’s need for a new vision prescription yearly, and parents and kids are disturbed by the increasing thickness of their eyeglass lenses.
Myopia Control Starts with an Eye Exam
Regular comprehensive eye exams for your child at all stages of their development is extremely important to ensure a child's vision will develop as it should and to diagnose any eye conditions that may be affecting your child.
There are many eye conditions, such as strabismus and amblyopia that can be corrected easily if caught early but can do irreversible damage that will affect a child into adulthood if left undiagnosed and untreated for too long. However, one of the leading causes of ocular disease in adults that continues to progress is myopia.
Slow or Stop Myopia Control
While nearsightedness or myopia can corrected through glasses or contact lenses, a modern concept has developed called Myopia Control. Myopia control is oriented to slow down or stop the progression of myopia since over the past few decades myopia has increased at an alarming rate.
Unfortunately, the percentage of moderate to high myopia has grown in number and myopia control is becoming a major consideration for parents & their child’s eye health. Book an appointment at our practice to learn how to start controlling myopia.
Frequently Asked Questions about CRT
(Corneal Refractive Therapy)
This is an exciting non-surgical method of reducing nearsightedness and astigmatism. This is achieved by using FDA-approved therapeutic corneal reshaping lenses that gently correct your vision while you sleep. This allows clear vision all day with freedom from daytime contact lenses, glasses, or surgery.
CRT is most effective on children and adults who are moderately nearsighted. Ideally, your prescription should be in the range of -1.00 to -6.00 with no more than -1.00 of astigmatism. If you have been unable to wear contact lenses for any reason (discomfort, allergies, inconvenience, dryness, etc.), you may be a great candidate for CRT because the lens is only worn while you sleep.
Unlike the age limits imposed on Lasik surgery, Dr. Belill can fit children as young as eight and there is no upper age limit. A comprehensive exam will give Dr. Belill a better idea of your chances for success.
Studies from around the world have indicated that CRT could possibly keep your children's nearsightedness from getting worse. Currently, an ongoing five year national multi-center study (S.M.A.R.T.) is seeking to confirm previous studies and prove this as a fact.
This could reduce a child’s future risk of nearsighted-related diseases such as glaucoma and retinal detachments. Your child is an especially good candidate if wearing glasses or daytime contact lenses interfere with their activities such as swimming or basketball.
Yes! For instance, the fee for CRT is less than half of the fee for Lasik surgery. Perhaps the most important attributes are that it is non-invasive and reversible. If your vision changes over time, the CRT lenses can be changed to account for it.
Lastly, in 2009, due to numerous complaints about Lasik side effects, the FDA launched a three-year study evaluated the safety of Lasik and its potential harmful effects on someone’s quality of life. For anyone less than 21years old, Lasik is not an option regardless. Lasik is not recommended for anyone with untreated dry eyes.
They are very safe and have been approved by FDA since 2001. However, there is a small risk of infection or abnormal blood vessel growth when CRT lenses are worn. This is no different than conventional contact lens wear, and may indeed be less.
This risk is minimized by adhering to suggested disinfection and care procedures, by wearing your retainers only as instructed, and by coming in for annual CRT corneal evaluations.
The rate of success is very high, but it depends on your original prescription and treatment goals. During your initial evaluation Dr. Belill will give you information about your potential outcome.
Yes. This allows you to read in bed or watch TV before falling asleep.
When the CRT lens is on your eye, it will feel scratchy when you blink. This is mild and usually not an issue since they will only be worn five minutes or so before going to sleep.
The CRT lenses are easier to put in and remove, even more than most GP lenses, and much easier than soft contact lenses. We offer an initial 30-day trial period to make sure that CRT is the right choice for you and your child.
During the first few days of the CRT process, you may find that your vision is quite good for a few hours, and then may begin to slowly diminish. Dr. Belill may fit you with a soft lens to wear that will improve your vision when it begins to fade.
Often these are only worn as needed and may be reduced in strength as your vision improves. Most patients are seeing clearly in as little as one night of retainer lens wear.
Although vision improves rapidly in most cases, the full visual effect does not take place until about two weeks of wear. During this transition time, temporary lenses may be used to correct any distance blur during the day.
Patients who wear their lenses as prescribed find that they have great vision well into the evening. However, if you stop wearing your lenses, your vision will return to its original state. CRT is temporary and reversible – meaning anyone can stop at any time and pursue other means of correction like glasses, conventional contact lenses or Lasik surgery.
Great results can be achieved in as little as four hours of sleep each night. Some people prefer to sleep for several short time periods rather than one consecutive period. This isn't a problem, just insert your retainer lenses when you sleep and remove them when you wake.
If you are over 40 your reading correction may be addressed with monovision CRT (this involves correcting one eye for great distance vision and the other eye for near vision; your brain automatically chooses the appropriate eye for the task). Dr. Belill will inform you if this is an option for you. Another alternative is to have both eyes corrected for distance vision and wear reading glasses whenever you want to do near work.
Yes! CRT may also be known as: Corneal Refractive Therapy, Ortho-K, orthokeratology, Vision Shaping Treatment, VST, Gentle Shaping System, The Gentle Vision Shaping System, Corneal Molding, Wave Front Corneal Molding, and Gentle Molding.
Additionally, the treatment devices used to achieve corrected vision may be referred to as: CRT lenses, Retainer Lenses, Vision Retainers, Retainers, Ortho-K Lenses, Corneal Molds, Molds, and Wave Lenses.
There is an initial fee plus ongoing annual fees with CRT. Using CareCredit, the initial fee is $125 per month for 12 months interest-free. Using cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, or Discover the initial fee is $1500.
This covers the testing and time necessary to design the CRT lenses, instructions for lens care, an initial pair of CRT lenses and all follow up office visits with Dr. Belill as needed within three months. After this, annual preventative eye health examinations along with CRT evaluations must be performed.
The annual fee for CRT portion of these visits will range from $100-$400 depending on whether replacement CRT lenses are needed. CRT, similar to Lasik surgery, is a premium specialty procedure. Because of this, insurance plans will not be billed for the initial procedure, annual evaluations, or future replacement lenses.
- Do your child’s eyes require a stronger eyeglass prescription for nearsightedness each year?
- Do you feel contacts or glasses inhibit you or your child’s ability to enjoy sports, working out, hiking, swimming, skiing, or other activities?
- Are you unable to wear contacts due to allergies or other sensitivities?
- Are you interested in LASIK, but not quite ready or afraid?
- DO YOU WANT CLEAR VISION, FREEDOM FROM DAYTIME CONTACT LENSES OR GLASSES, and NO SURGERY?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, consider CRT.
- Orthokeratology (“ortho-k”) or Corneal Refractive Therapy
- Atropine Drops
- Multifocal contact lenses
- Multifocal eyeglasses
- Mild myopia: -0.25 to -3.00 D
- Moderate myopia: Between -3.00 to -6.00 D
- High myopia: More than -6.00 D
Myopia Control Prevents Risk of Ocular Disease
Cataracts
The rate of progression of myopia has been linked to the development of cataracts. The higher the level of myopia in a child, the faster the rate cataracts can develop when they get older.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is when the eye develops an unusually high pressure, where this pressure can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss. Nearsighted people have a 2-3x greater risk at Glaucoma.
Detached Retina
Levels of myopia also have a correlation to detached retinas. A detached retina is when the retina pulls away from the eyes tissue, often resulting in permanent vision loss.
Myopia Control Starts With You – The Parent
Your child’s eyes are his/her gateway into the world of learning. When your child’s vision is not functioning properly, learning and participation in recreational activities will suffer.
Children are not likely to recognize vision problems like myopia, and it is, therefore, the responsibility of parents and teachers to recognize signs of visual problems in their children.
Children’s Eyesight May Change, Less Often With Myopia Control
Because changes in your child’s vision can occur without you or your child noticing them, your child should visit the eye doctor every year or more frequently if specific problems or risk factors exist.
Myopia control attempts to reduce the number of changes that may occur in your child’s vision. With a successful myopia control program, an eye doctor can provide your child with amazing vision, track your child’s rate of myopia, and provide a clear road to healthy eyesight and a successful future.
To learn more about how your child’s myopia can be suppressed, contact your eye doctor to schedule an appointment.
Myopia, always common in children, is an increasing problem. The number of kids who are nearsighted has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years.