PEDIATRIC EYE CARE:
What Is Myopia Control?
TEXT ANDREW MORGENSTERN
M ore and more kids
are being prescribed
glasses, and at
younger ages than ever before.

Most children wear glasses
because they have myopia.

Myopia is also known as
nearsightedness, where distant
objects appear blurry. Due to
a variety of factors, (including
genetics, lack of outdoor time
and increased use of personal
devices like smartphones and
tablets) myopia is reaching
epidemic proportions.

Currently, more than 10 million
U.S. children have myopia, and
shockingly, in one generation,
myopia diagnoses have
doubled. Risk factors for childhood
myopia include: One or both
parents with myopia; ethnicity
(highest in Asian, Latino and
Black populations); increased
screen time; increased reading
fall short of the retina. There
Myopia control has been well
are different reasons why this
researched and performed for
happens, but the two most
several years. However, only in
common are genetics and
the last few years have we seen
excessive “near work,” like
reading or using electronic
longer-term studies showing
how effective and safe these
devices. treatments are for children.

All eyes are born with a limited
HELP FOR YOUR CHILD
amount of retina, so if the eye
I don’t know of any other
grows too long it can stretch
pediatric disease that we
the existing retina. The retina
examine, diagnose and watch
can thin out and develop holes,
which can easily result in a
retinal detachment. The same
concern applies to the optic
nerve, which connects the eye
to the brain. As rates of myopia
increase, so does the risk of
serious eye disease. Ultimately,
there is no safe amount of
myopia. get worse without treatment.

As a parent, it can be a helpless
feeling to see your child’s
vision get worse, and see
them prescribed stronger and
stronger glasses.

With the increased prevalence
of myopia in children,
identification at the earliest
phase is critical to preservation
of vision and long-term
HOW WE STOP MYOPIA
New treatments, called myopia
eye health. Contact your
eye care professional, or
control, are now available
visit treehouseeyes.com for
to halt or slow down the
information on myopia control.

progression of myopia while a
child’s eye is developing. While
time; and lack of outdoor time.

glasses work well to correct
MYOPIA AND
EYE DISEASE RISK
not slow down or stop myopia.

If fact, if glasses are prescribed
families at the Bethesda Treehouse
Myopia occurs when the eye
incorrectly, they can actually
Eyes location. Visit treehouseeyes.

grows longer, causing light to
make the condition worse.

com for location information.

32 December 2016 washingtonFAMILY.com
vision, unfortunately glasses do
Dr. Andrew Morgenstern,
optometrist, is the medical director
for Treehouse Eyes and sees



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You focus on her
science fair project.

We’ll keep her vision from
getting worse in the future.

Kids are growing up with much more screen time and less
outdoor time. As a result, myopia - nearsightedness, where far
away objects appear blurry - is rapidly increasing.

Stronger glasses every year aren’t the answer. While necessary,
glasses only treat the symptoms of myopia. And, myopia
increases the risk of serious eye diseases as your child grows.

We have proven alternatives that help prevent myopia from
getting worse. Visit TreehouseEyes.com/DC or call to schedule
a consultation. Let us help give your child better vision and
healthier eyes for life.

Bethesda: 240-297-5542
Tysons Corner: 703-991-2768
washingtonFAMILY.com December 2016 33