Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is a common vision condition that often develops during childhood and progresses as the eyes grow. At Baalman Eye Care Center, we provide personalized myopia management in Wichita, KS, to help slow the progression of nearsightedness and support children's long-term eye health. Our approach focuses on early detection, effective treatment options, and ongoing monitoring to help protect your child's vision as they grow.

What Is Myopia?

Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long or the cornea is too curved, causing distant objects to appear blurry while nearby objects remain clear. Children with myopia may struggle to see the classroom board, recognize distant objects, or participate comfortably in certain activities.

Although prescription glasses and traditional contact lenses can correct blurry vision, they do not necessarily slow myopia progression. Without appropriate management, nearsightedness may continue to worsen throughout childhood and adolescence.

Higher levels of myopia are also associated with an increased risk of certain eye conditions later in life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration.

Signs Your Child May Need Myopia Management

Children may not always recognize changes in their vision. We encourage parents to schedule a pediatric eye exam in Wichita if their child experiences:

Frequent squinting when looking at distant objects
Difficulty seeing the board at school
Sitting unusually close to televisions or screens
Complaints of blurry distance vision
Frequent changes in their eyeglass prescription

Identifying myopia early allows us to evaluate your child's vision and determine whether treatment could help slow its progression.

Myopia Management Options

At Baalman Eye Care Center, we offer several approaches to managing childhood myopia. Our recommendations depend on your child's age, prescription, eye health, and individual needs.

Essilor Stellest Lenses: Stellest eyeglass lenses feature Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target (H.A.L.T.) technology. Their specialized lenslet design corrects blurry vision while helping slow excessive eye growth associated with childhood myopia.
MiSight 1 Day Contact Lenses: MiSight 1 day lenses are specially designed soft contact lenses that correct nearsightedness while helping slow myopia progression in eligible children. These daily disposable lenses provide clear vision without requiring nightly cleaning or storage.
Soft Multifocal Contact Lenses: Certain multifocal contact lenses use specialized optical designs to help manage how light focuses on the retina. These lenses can provide clear vision while helping reduce the rate of myopia progression.
Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops: Low-dose atropine eye drops may help slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. Typically administered at bedtime, these drops are considered based on your child's individual needs and are used off-label for myopia management in the United States.

What to Expect During a Myopia Evaluation

When you visit our Wichita office for a myopia evaluation, we assess your child's vision, prescription, eye health, and relevant family history. We also discuss daily habits, including screen use, near work, and outdoor activities.

Based on our findings, we recommend an appropriate management approach and explain what to expect from treatment. Regular follow-up visits allow us to monitor prescription changes, evaluate progress, and adjust the plan when necessary.

While myopia management cannot cure or completely prevent nearsightedness, early intervention may help slow its progression and reduce the likelihood of developing higher levels of myopia.

Schedule a Myopia Management Evaluation in Wichita, KS

If your child is showing signs of nearsightedness or has already been diagnosed with myopia, schedule an evaluation with Baalman Eye Care Center to discuss personalized myopia management in Wichita, KS.

Baalman Eye Care Center
982 N. Tyler Road, Suite A
Wichita, KS 67212
Phone: (316) 722-6452