Myopia Control

What Is Myopia?

Myopia affects the ability to see clearly at a distance, which is how it earned its common name “nearsightedness.” An individual with myopia may have great vision when focusing on things close-up but have trouble focusing on objects farther away.

Myopia is a type of refractive error—a problem where light is not focused accurately on the retina due to the shape of the eye. With myopia, light is focused in front of the retina, creating blurry distance vision.

Myopia in children can worsen as they grow and progress into a more severe form. While myopia can progress, we can help slow this progression with specialized treatments.

Visit a Cowichan Eyecare location, and we can diagnose and treat myopia as early as possible.

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What Risks Are Associated with Myopia?

Besides the inconvenience of being dependent on glasses or contact lenses to see clearly, myopia can increase the risk of developing certain eye diseases, including:

Glaucoma
Cataracts
Retinal detachment
Myopic maculopathy (also called myopic macular degeneration)

The health risks myopia impose remain even if a person opts to correct their vision surgically (like with LASIK). The greater the amount of myopia, the greater the risk.

Myopia Management for Children

While myopia can have extremely adverse effects, there are now several different ways to help prevent, manage, and control its progression.

Controlling Myopia

The most important thing you can do to help safeguard your child’s vision is to ensure they go for annual eye exams. These exams allow your child’s optometrist to track changes in their eye health and vision, and ensure their prescription is kept up to date.

Outdoor activity has been shown to be correlated with later onset and possibly reduced progression of myopia, so at least 1–2 hours of outdoor time every day is recommended for all children. The focusing distance of your child’s near activities is also important.

Research has developed ways for us to slow the progression of myopia by slowing the growth of the eye. One method is optical, manipulating the way light focuses in the eye using glasses or contact lenses. The other method is pharmaceutical, using medicated eye drops.

Myopia Management At Cowichan Eyecare

At Cowichan Eyecare we have developed a myopia management program to help protect the future of your child’s vision. We have invested in specialized equipment including corneal topography and a Zeiss IOL Master to accurately measure eye length (axial length) to provide myopia control care.

We offer treatment with the following strategies:

Multifocal soft contact lenses including the MiSight daily disposable lens that is Health Canada approved for myopia control.
Orthokeratology, also known as “ortho-k,” contact lenses. These specially shaped hard contact lenses are custom-designed for your child to gently reshape their eye overnight, offering clear vision the next day without the need to wear glasses or contact lenses.
Low-dose atropine eye drops. These medicated drops are instilled nightly and interact with receptors that help control growth in various tissues of the eye.
Eyeglasses that have specialized focusing properties such as the MiyoSmart design.

Please contact us for further information or to book your child for a myopia management consult.

Zeiss MyoCare Lenses

Zeiss MyoCare eyeglass lenses are specifically crafted to slow the progression of myopia by targeting the eye’s “growth signal.” These lenses feature alternating defocus and correction zones, forming an expanding ring-like pattern on the lens.

Vision is more than straightforward—so when kids look around, left, right, up, and down, their lenses need to keep up with the movement of their eyes. Zeiss’ lens technology can effectively slow myopia progression and allow for clear, effortlessly comfortable vision in all directions. Plus, the built-in UV protection helps protect eye health to promote life-long vision.

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Our Technology

At Cowichan Eyecare, we’ve built our foundation on providing quality patient care. Your appointment with our careful, thorough, and compassionate team will include an in-depth review of your medical history and optical needs. We’re dedicated to helping protect your child’s vision and eye health.

We will also use diagnostic technology paired with tried-and-true methods to thoroughly assess your child’s vision and eye health, and address myopia progression.

Corneal Topography

Corneal topography is a diagnostic tool used to map the surface of the eye. It creates a 3D image that helps us identify the unique features of the cornea. This instrument is important for accurate OrthoK fitting.

Zeiss IOL Master

The Zeiss IOL Master is a tool we use during myopia treatment, helping us accurately measure the eye’s length. The design of this diagnostic tool helps us measure eye length and curvature without making any contact with the eye.

ACUVUE Abiliti 1-Day Lenses

Acuvue Abiliti 1-Day soft therapeutic lenses are designed to help manage and slow the progression of myopia, or nearsightedness, in children aged 7 to 12 at the initiation of treatment. These daily disposable lenses feature a silicone hydrogel designed to promote comfort and easy handling for your child.

With Acuvue Abiliti 1-Day soft therapeutic lenses, we can help give your child clear vision and give you peace of mind knowing that you’re taking steps to protect their eye health.

Take Control of Your Child’s Vision

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information on any of the myopia control methods we offer. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about myopia and how it may affect you or a loved one.

Our Services

Comprehensive Eye Exams

Contact Lens Exams

Vision Therapy

Myopia Control

Visit Our Locations

Langford

& Area

Find us at the corner of Langford Parkway and Jacklin Road. We’re across the parking lot from the White Spot.

2968 Jacklin Rd
Langford, BC V9B 0A3

Our Hours

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

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Duncan

& Area

We’re located next to Thrifty Foods just off Beverly Street. If you have any trouble finding us, please give us a call.

2755 Beverly Street, Unit 2
Duncan, BC V9L 6X2

Our Hours

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

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Chemainus

& Area

We look forward to helping you achieve your vision goals at our Chemainus location. Find us just off of Maple Lane and Croft Street.

9844 Croft Street, Unit 106
Chemainus, BC V0R 1K0

Our Hours

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

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Cobble Hill

& Area

Our Cobble Hill location is just off Cowichan Bay Road on the upper level of Valleyview Centre. If you have any trouble finding us, please give us a call.