Myopia Control Management in Carrollton | North Dallas TX | North Dallas, TX
Slow your child's myopia progression with evidence-based treatment at Need Eye Exam PLLC, serving Carrollton, North Dallas, and patients nationwide.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is a condition where distant objects appear blurry while close objects remain clear. It occurs when the eye grows too long, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it.
Myopia is one of the fastest-growing vision conditions in the world. Studies estimate that by 2050, nearly half of the world's population will be myopic. In children, myopia typically begins between the ages of 6 and 14 and progressively worsens throughout the school years, often stabilizing in the early-to-mid twenties.
Why Myopia Control Matters
Myopia is not just an inconvenience requiring glasses or contact lenses. High myopia, a prescription greater than -6.00 diopters, significantly increases the risk of serious, sight-threatening conditions later in life including:
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Retinal detachment
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Glaucoma
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Cataracts
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Myopic maculopathy
The goal of myopia control is not simply to correct your child's vision today, it is to slow the progression of myopia and reduce their lifetime risk of these serious complications. Early intervention produces the best results. The sooner treatment begins, the more effective it is.
Signs Your Child May Have Myopia
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Squinting to see the board at school
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Sitting too close to the TV or screen
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Complaints of headaches after looking at distant objects
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Holding books or devices very close to their face
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Difficulty seeing clearly during sports or outdoor activities
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If your child shows any of these signs, schedule a comprehensive eye exam at Vision Looky | Need Eye Exam today.
Our Myopia Control Management Program (Age: 5-18)
At Need Eye Exam PLLC, Dr. Willis Grajales O.D. and our clinical team offer a comprehensive, personalized Myopia Control Management Program using the most effective evidence-based treatments available.
Treatment:
We evaluate each patient individually and recommend the treatment, or combination of treatments, most likely to produce the best outcome for their specific case.
What to Expect at Your Myopia Control Consultation
Your child's myopia control journey at Need Eye Exam PLLC begins with a comprehensive evaluation:
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Complete eye exam: visual acuity, refraction, eye health assessment
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Axial length measurement: tracking eye growth over time
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Corneal mapping: essential for Ortho-K candidates
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Family history review: myopia progression risk assessment
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Treatment recommendation: personalized plan based on your child's age, prescription, lifestyle, and progression history
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Ongoing monitoring: regular follow-up visits to track progress and adjust treatment as needed
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Atropine Eye Drops
Low-dose atropine eye drops are one of the most extensively studied and clinically proven myopia control treatments available. Applied once daily, typically at bedtime, low-dose atropine (0.01% to 0.05%) has been shown in multiple clinical trials to significantly slow myopia progression in children with minimal side effects.
How it works: Atropine relaxes the focusing mechanism of the eye, reducing the stimulus for axial eye growth that drives myopia progression.
Best for: Children of all ages, including those too young for contact lenses. Easy to administer and highly effective when used consistently.
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Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Orthokeratology, commonly called Ortho-K, uses specially designed rigid gas-permeable contact lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea while your child sleeps. When removed in the morning, the cornea retains its new shape throughout the day, providing clear vision without glasses or contact lenses.
Beyond vision correction, Ortho-K has been clinically proven to slow myopia progression by reducing peripheral hyperopic defocus, a key driver of axial eye elongation.
How it works: The overnight lenses gently flatten the central cornea, temporarily correcting myopia. The peripheral corneal shape change reduces the signals that drive eye growth.
Best for: Active children and teenagers who prefer not to wear glasses or daytime contact lenses. Particularly popular with children who play sports.
What to expect: Most patients achieve clear daytime vision within 1-2 weeks of beginning Ortho-K therapy. Lenses are custom designed for each patient based on detailed corneal mapping.
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Myopia Control Contact Lenses
Specially designed soft contact lenses, such as MiSight and other dual-focus designs, correct vision while simultaneously delivering a myopia-slowing effect throughout the day. Unlike standard contact lenses that simply correct blur, myopia control contact lenses create a peripheral defocus signal that reduces the stimulus for continued eye growth.
How it works: The lenses have a dual-focus design, a central zone that corrects distance vision and a peripheral zone that creates myopic defocus to slow eye elongation.
Best for: Children and teenagers aged 8 and older who are comfortable wearing contact lenses. A great option for those not suitable for Ortho-K or who prefer daytime wear.
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Prescription glasses for children
At Need Eye Exam PLLC, we carefully prescribe and fit eyeglasses for children with myopia to help maintain their prescription, keep their vision sharp and clear, and support strong, healthy eyes throughout their growth years. Wearing the correct prescription consistently is essential for children with myopia, an outdated or incorrect prescription can cause eye strain, headaches, and may contribute to faster progression. Our doctors take extra care during children's eye exams to ensure the prescription is accurate, the fit is comfortable, and the lenses are appropriate for your child's age, activities, and visual demands. Getting your child into the right glasses early, and keeping their prescription current with annual exams, is one of the most important things you can do to protect their vision for life.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should myopia control treatment begin?
The earlier the better. Most myopia control treatments are appropriate for children as young as 6-8 years old. Earlier intervention typically produces better long-term outcomes because it slows progression during the years when the eye grows most rapidly.
How do I know if my child's myopia is progressing?
A comprehensive annual eye exam is the best way to monitor progression. We track axial length measurements and refractive changes over time to determine whether treatment is working and whether adjustments are needed.
Can myopia be cured?
No, myopia cannot currently be cured. However, myopia control treatments can significantly slow its progression, reducing the final prescription your child reaches in adulthood and lowering their lifetime risk of serious eye complications.
Do you see patients from outside Carrollton?
Yes, we welcome patients from across North Dallas, DFW, Texas, and nationwide. We offer telemedicine follow-up consultations for out-of-state patients and ship glasses and contact lenses anywhere in the United States.
Does insurance cover myopia control?
Coverage varies by insurance plan. Atropine eye drops may be covered under medical benefits. Contact lenses for myopia control are sometimes covered under vision benefits. We will help you understand your coverage options at your appointment.
How long does myopia control treatment last?
Treatment typically continues until myopia stabilizes, usually in the early-to-mid twenties.
We monitor each patient's progression and adjust the treatment plan as needed throughout their growth years.