Myopia Management in Walnut Creek & Antioch

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Clear Vision Your Child Can Rely On

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive error that causes objects at a distance to appear out of focus and blurry. Nearly 10 million Americans deal with myopia and need to wear corrective eyewear for clear vision every day, making it one of the most common refractive errors in the United States.

Typically, myopia occurs when the eyeball grows too long, or the cornea becomes too steep. When either happens, light cannot correctly enter the eye to rest on the retina to create a clear image, causing blurred vision.

At Diablo Valley Optometric Group, we offer a few types of myopia management therapies designed to slow the condition’s progression. Although myopia cannot be cured without surgery, it can be prevented from worsening, especially if treated during childhood. If you’re interested in myopia management and what it can do for you or your child, please give us a call.

What Causes Myopia?

Myopia first develops in children, as their eyes are continually growing. Children are born naturally hyperopic (farsighted), and as they grow, their eyes grow with them. When their eyes reach the normal length, vision will be normal. For some children, the eyeball continues to grow, and they develop myopia.

Although myopia research is ongoing, one factor has been shown to significantly affect myopia’s progression more than others. Children who spend more time outdoors and less time on near work, like reading or using smartphones, are less likely to develop myopia.

Preventing & Treating Myopia

Although myopia cannot be prevented altogether, its progression can be slowed significantly. High myopia has been linked to an increased risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration. Many studies have focused on what can be done to slow or halt its progression.

For children that have been diagnosed with myopia, there are products and therapies available that can prevent the eye from growing and thus successfully slow and even stop myopia progression.

Corneal Refractive Therapy (Orthokeratology)

Corneal refractive therapy, also known as orthokeratology or ortho-k, uses specially designed contact lenses worn to reshape the cornea and improve vision temporarily. The lenses are worn overnight to reshape the eye’s surface and removed during the day.

Results from orthokeratology are reversible but can successfully be maintained if the lenses are continually worn as directed.

Multifocal contact lenses effectively slow myopia’s progression in children, shown through several studies performed in the early 2010s.

The lenses have a center distance design, similar to a bullseye, with 2 basic portions for focusing light. The center portion of the lens corrects nearsightedness to focus light directly on the retina. The outer part adds focusing power to bring peripheral light rays into focus in front of the retina.

Studies have shown that bringing light to focus in front of the retina cues the eye to slow growth, effectively slowing myopia’s progression.

Bring Your Child in For an Eye Exam

Myopia is a common refractive error that can be both treated and managed effectively. Some symptoms to be aware of in your child include:

  • They complain about not being able to see distant objects
  • They frequently squint or rub their eyes
  • They sit too close to the TV
  • They hold items very close to their face
  • They need to sit close to the board at school
  • They blink excessively
  • They complain about frequent headaches
  • They avoid reading or other detailed work

If your child has been diagnosed with myopia and you would like to explore your options with myopia management, we’d be happy to help. Please reach out to us or fill out our online form to book an appointment today!

Our Locations

Antioch

Find our Antioch clinic in the beautiful Lone Tree Landing shopping center, on the corner of Hillcrest Avenue and Lone Tree Way.

Contact Information

Address

5009 Lone Tree Way, Suite A
Antioch, CA 94531

Our Hours

Monday
CLOSED
Tuesday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Friday
9 AM5:30 PM
Saturday
By Appointment Only
Sunday
CLOSED

*Our clinic is closed for lunch from noon to 1:30 PM every day.

Walnut Creek

Our Walnut Creek location is Suite C of the Ygnacio Woods Medical Building on Ygnacio Valley Road.

Contact Information

Address

2255 Ygnacio Valley Road, Suite C
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Our Hours

Monday
CLOSED
Tuesday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Wednesday
9 AM5:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Friday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Saturday
By Appointment Only
Sunday
CLOSED

*Our clinic is closed for lunch from noon to 1:30 PM every day.

Find our Antioch clinic in the beautiful Lone Tree Landing shopping center, on the corner of Hillcrest Avenue and Lone Tree Way.

Contact Information

Address

5009 Lone Tree Way, Suite A
Antioch, CA 94531

Our Hours

Monday
CLOSED
Tuesday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Friday
9 AM5:30 PM
Saturday
By Appointment Only
Sunday
CLOSED

*Our clinic is closed for lunch from noon to 1:30 PM every day.

Our Walnut Creek location is Suite C of the Ygnacio Woods Medical Building on Ygnacio Valley Road.

Contact Information

Address

2255 Ygnacio Valley Road, Suite C
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Our Hours

Monday
CLOSED
Tuesday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Wednesday
9 AM5:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Friday
8:30 AM5:30 PM
Saturday
By Appointment Only
Sunday
CLOSED

*Our clinic is closed for lunch from noon to 1:30 PM every day.

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