The world is in a myopia (nearsighted) epidemic. Currently about 42% of the world is nearsighted. In the year 2050, fifty per cent (50%) of the world will be nearsighted. Myopia is when a person sees better at near than at far. Myopia is a risk factor for glaucoma. The longer the eye, which we call axial length, the higher the risk for glaucoma. An eye becomes nearsighted when the axial length becomes longer than the power of the eye causing light rays to focus in front of the retina. Every diopter of myopia matters to avoid eye disease.
The eye typically starts growing as a child especially around age 8. New technology can slow down the growth of the eye. The ways in which we slow the growth are with drops (0.05% atropine), daily disposable multifocal soft contact lenses (MiSight), CRT gas permeable contact lenses, and a new spectacle lens which just got approved by the FDA (Stellest). In terms of slowing eye growth, Stellest works the best followed by CRT contact lenses, MiSight, and then atropine drops.