Dr. Meagan Anderson, an optometrist in Omaha, discussed myopia and its myopia control in children during an interview with Kari Wurth on KMTV Omaha Extra.
What is Myopia?
Kari Wurth:
Welcome back to Omaha Extra! My name is Kari Wurth, and today I’m at Modern Vision Solutions. We’re talking with Dr. Megan Anderson, an optometrist here, and today we’re going to learn a little bit about myopia. Dr. Anderson, can you tell us, what is myopia?
Dr. Megan Anderson:
Yes, thanks for being here today! Myopia is the medical term for nearsightedness. This is when people can’t see far away—think about someone looking across a football field and not being able to see the scoreboard, or a student in class who can’t see the board. However, they can see better up close. That’s myopia.
What are some of the long-term effects of myopia in kids?
Kari Wurth:
All right, very good to know. What are some of the long-term risks associated with myopia?
Dr. Megan Anderson:
Great question. With myopia, or nearsightedness, we know it’s actually caused by a lengthening of the eye. When kids become more nearsighted, their eye is literally growing longer. This growth stretches everything inside the eye, including the retina. Because of this, people with myopia are at a higher risk for serious eye issues like retinal detachments, glaucoma, and early cataracts.
What are some of the treatments Modern Vision Solutions provide for myopia control?
The main treatments for myopia, especially in children, fall under what we call myopia control or myopia management. These include options like special eye drops applied before bedtime, overnight contact lenses, or daily contact lenses designed to signal the eye to stop growing in length. These treatments are all about slowing down the progression of myopia to reduce those long-term risks.
Kari Wurth:
That’s great to hear there are solutions! Thank you so much, Dr. Anderson, for sharing this valuable information. If you’d like to learn more, visit MVSvision.com. We’ll see you next time on Omaha Extra!
Dr. Meagan Anderson is the lead optometrist at Modern Vision Solutions in Omaha, NE. She completed her Residency in Refractive Surgery and Primary Care and holds a Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Missouri – St. Louis College of Optometry St. Louis, MO. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, American Academy of Optometry, and the Nebraska Optometric Association. Dr. Anderson has had experience in multiple refractive surgery and optometry practices. She has served as a teaching assistant in Clinical Optometry I, II, & III courses. Our patients love her incredible empathy.
