Questions to Ask Your Optometrist About Myopia Management

If your child has been diagnosed with myopia (nearsightedness), the good news is that there are several management options to help slow down or reduce the progression of myopia. Asking the right questions during the eye exam will be help you make an informed decision if you’re considering myopia control for your child, such as:

What is the severity of my child’s nearsightedness?

• Understanding how far the condition has progressed can help guide what treatment option is suitable.

  • “Is this considered mild, moderate, or high myopia?”

  • “How many diopters is the prescription?”

  • “Has the myopia changed significantly since the last visit?”

Is the myopia likely to worsen?

• Children’s vision is likely to change during growth periods, especially between 8 to 13 years of age.

  • “What is the probability that this will progress?”

  • “What risk factors should we be aware of?”

  • “At what age does Myopia stabilize?”

What Myopia control options are available?

• Myopia management involves more than just wearing glasses, ask the optometrist about:

  • Orthokeratology (ortho-k)

  • Contact Lenses (myopia control)

  • Atropine eye drops

  • “Which options are better for slowing down myopia progression?”

What lifestyle factors affect nearsightedness?

• Myopia risk factors include environmental and behavioral apart from being hereditary.

  • “Does outdoor time really help protect against myopia?”

  • “How much screen time is too much?”

  • What habits can help slow down myopia?”

How often should we follow-up?

• Monitoring Myopia is as important as managing it.

  • “How frequently should we monitor for changes?”

  • “What signs should I watch for at home?”

Are Myopia control treatments covered by vision and/or medical insurance?

• Myopia control treatments vary in cost depending on complexity, you may ask things like:

  • “What are the costs of the different options?”

  • “Does insurance cover Ortho-k or Atropine drops?”

  • “Are payment plans available”

How is treatment success measured?

• Monitoring success is a crucial part of myopia management, you may ask:

  • “What tools do you use to measure changes and eye growth?”

  • “What are the expected outcomes?”

Why is Myopia control important now?

• If left unmanaged, myopia can worsen over time and lead to ocular complications later in life, consider asking:

  • “How does early treatment of nearsightedness change the outcome in to adulthood?”

  • “What are the long-term risks of developing high myopia?”

Asking questions can lead to improved outcomes and care, we are here to help with your myopia management needs. Schedule your consultation today with one of our doctors.