What Is Myopia?
Myopia is another name for nearsightedness. It causes blurred vision when viewing objects at a distance.
As the most common cause of blurred vision symptoms in teens, about one in five 12-year-olds in the United States has myopia.
The cause of myopia isn't clear, but a few risk factors include:
- Lack of time outdoors.
- Detailed work — such as reading — in bad light.
To address the growing problem of nearsightedness in young people in the US, we opened the Myopia Treatment Center.
The center focuses on the prevention, study, and treatment of myopia.
We're also a resource for parents to get solid advice and proper surveillance of their child's nearsightedness.
Diagnosing and Treating Childhood Myopia
When a doctor refers your child to the Myopia Treatment Center, we'll first check the level of his or her nearsightedness.
If the results of the exam show:
Then:
- We'll ask that you follow up at the center in a few months.
If the results of the exam show:
Then:
- Our pediatric eye disease experts will define a treatment pathway.
Children with high myopia also will have a genetic test to find out if there's a genetic basis for their nearsightedness.
Make an appointment at the Myopia Treatment Center at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Call 412-692-8940 to make an appointment for your child.
