In the United States, Myopia has Increased
by 66% in thirty years…
Recent studies show We can Slow it Down!
Myopia Control Experts In New York City & Scarsdale
Myopia Control in New York City & Scarsdale has been our focus for nearly 30 years. At Eye Q Optometrist, we continue to treat children with the most advanced technology and treatment options. Dr. Abraham Zlatin is Fellowship trained in myopia control and orthokeratology. Dr. Zachary Zlatin additionally holds a Masters degree and an International Academy Certification in Myopia Management (IACMM). Other than being the first fellowship-trained practice for myopia control and orthokeratology in all of New York State, Dr.’s Abraham Zlatin and Zachary Zlatin use specialized technology to achieve the best outcomes for myopia control. With years of experience custom designing myopia control orthokeratology molds, our doctors have an advantage in treating myopia progression over less experienced practitioners who rely on commercially available retainers.
Myopia Control is a new term for many people today. Myopia has been increasing for children over the last decade at a frightening rate. Learn more about myopia control today.
Myopia is becoming increasingly prevalent around the world, with a recent study showing that close to 30% of the world’s population is currently myopic. Alarmingly, by 2050, close to 50% of the global population will be myopic. That’s a staggering 5 billion people!
Myopia rates have shot up in the last 20 years. In China, between 10-20 % of primary school children are myopic. This number increases to 50% for high school students, and by the time they reach university, 90% of the student body is nearsighted.
The good news is that thanks to Myopia Management, you can protect your children from landing on the wrong side of this statistic.
What is Myopia?
Myopia develops when the eye grows too long from front to back, which causes light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. For those with nearsightedness, distant objects appear blurred while nearby objects remain clear.
This condition develops during childhood, when the eyeballs are experiencing rapid growth, and tends to progress gradually or rapidly into the late teen years. Myopia can be easily corrected using corrective glasses or contact lenses.
Childhood myopia is typically diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 7 and worsens during the eye’s rapid growth years. The prescription tends to plateau at around age 12.
What is Myopia Management?
“Myopia management” is a series of treatments that eye doctors use to slow the progression of myopia in children. Our myopia management treatments can induce changes in the structure of the eye by diminishing the stress and fatigue linked to the development and progression of myopia. Several studies have indicated that these treatments successfully slow down the progression of nearsightedness in children and teens.
Eye Q Optometrist currently offers several different customized treatment options to slow the progression of myopia. Our doctors work closely with each family and customize treatment programs for every child based on their unique needs.
The treatments offered include:
- Atropine eye drops
- Multifocal contact lenses
- Orthokeratology (“ortho-k”)
Patients are carefully monitored by Dr. Zlatin and reviewed every 6-12 months to assess the efficacy of the chosen treatment modality.
Eye Q Optometrist is a Myopia Management practice in New York City that offers evidence-based treatment to prevent the onset or reduce the progression of myopia in pediatric patients.
Because we stay on the forefront of the latest research, you can be sure that Eye Q Optometrist is maximizing the chances of your child’s success.
Patients We Typically Work With At Our New York City Myopia Control Center
- Patients with progressive myopia (-0.25DS or more in the last 2 years)
- Patients with refractive error: MSE (sph + 0.5*cyl): +0.50 DS to -6.00 DS, no limit on DC
- Patients at risk of becoming myopic due to a family history of myopia (one or two myopic parents)
- Patients who spend over 3 hours a day doing near work (reading, studying, writing)
- Patients who spend less than 6 hours a week outdoors
- Patients 5 years and older
What Should the Patient Expect?
To monitor and assess the efficacy of the treatment, all our young patients undergo an extensive vision evaluation, provided by Dr. Zlatin. This includes:
- Axial length and retinal shape measurements
- Cycloplegic axial and peripheral autorefraction
- Corneal topography and choroidal thickness measurements
- Lifestyle questionnaire (including how much near work and outdoor activity they engage in per day/week)
- Discussion of the results
- Development of a personalized treatment plan
At Eye Q Optometrist, in New York City we provide our patients with effective, customized treatment to control the progression of myopia. By stopping or slowing down the progression of myopia, we reduce long-term risks to best ensure that your child enjoys the world with healthy eyes throughout his or her life.
Eye Q Optometrist serves patients in New York City, Scarsdale, Rye , Mamaroneck, and throughout New York.
