Myopia Providence RI Treating Nearsightedness
in Children & Adults
- Board-Certified Eye Doctors
- Nonsurgical Solutions for All Ages
- Most Insurances Accepted
Why Providence Chooses Us To Treat Nearsightedness at Any Age
Leaders in Eye Care
Dr. Ezra Galler was the first doctor in the state to offer EVO ICL, an implantable lens that corrects myopia and astigmatism. He was also the first doctor in the state to perform laser vision correction, and he has performed more LASIK procedures than any other doctor in Rhode Island.
A Range of Care
We can treat nearsightedness in patients of any age. We can prescribe medicated eye drops, special contact lenses, and glasses for children. For older patients, we can prescribe corrective eyewear or perform surgical solutions like LASIK and refractive lens exchange.
Affordability
Whether the solution you or your child need is covered by insurance or considered elective, we can make it affordable for you. Our staff can work directly with your insurance provider to maximize coverage for eligible treatments, and we accept low-interest CareCredit® financing for out-of-pocket costs.
Treatment Options At a Glance
Nonsurgical
- Glasses: We can conduct an in-depth exam to find your ideal lens prescription.
- Contact Lenses: Patients who prefer freedom from glasses without undergoing surgery can count on to find the right prescription for their needs.
- Ortho-K Contacts: Patients age 6 and older can wear these overnight contact lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea for improved daytime vision.
- Peripheral Defocus Contacts: These special contact lenses for children improve distance focus while slightly blurring peripheral vision, which is believed to slow the development of myopia.
- Eye Drops: Low-dose atropine eye drops can slow the progression of myopia in children ages 5 to 18.
Surgical
- LASIK: At Galler Eye Associates, you can undergo LASIK by Rhode Island's leading provider. By choosing an experienced and board-certified practitioner like Dr. Ezra Galler, you can reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses.
- EVO ICL: The EVO ICL is an implantable lens placed between the iris and the natural crystalline lens to correct moderate to severe nearsightedness.
- RLE: Refractive lens exchange involves replacing the crystalline lens with an artificial lens designed to provide correction. This is traditionally associated with cataract surgery, but can be used to treat myopia even in patients who do not have cataracts.
Let's Get Started! We've Got the Solution You Need
If you or your child suffer from nearsightedness, Dr. Galler and his team are here to help you achieve and maintain your best possible quality of vision. Our cutting-edge diagnostics can allow us to understand the full scope of your needs and recommend the optimal treatment for you.
Over the last 30 years, Dr. Galler has played an integral role in advancing the field of ophthalmology in Rhode Island. Under his care, you and your child can expect the utmost safety and precision. Whether you are experiencing changes in your vision and want to undergo an exam, or have been diagnosed with myopia and want to explore treatment options, we are here to meet your needs. Write to us or call to request your consultation today:
“I was overjoyed.” 5-Star Google Reviews
shari K
Providence, RI
2024
Dr. Galler is the most caring, attentive, detail oriented doctor that I know. When I had my lasik surgery many years ago, I was a bit scared for the procedure but he was so reassuring and calming and it was over so quickly that when I was able to see perfectly right after the procedure I was overjoyed.
View on GoogleErik Winton
Providence, RI
2024
Treating Children for Nearsightedness
If you or your child's other parent are nearsighted, your child faces an increased risk of developing myopia. It is recommended that children undergo their first eye exam between the ages of six and 12 months, a second exam by the time they are 5, and annual exams from ages 6 to 18. If your child has never had an eye exam, we'd love to be the practice to help your child achieve and maintain their best ocular health.
When myopia is detected in its earliest stages, we can take measures to slow its development and keep it from becoming worse. Let's take a look at some ways we can control myopia and minimize its effect on your child's vision:
Corrective Eyewear
Vision plays a critical role in a child's formative years. Depending on the degree of myopia your child is experiencing, they can wear glasses as early as one to two years old. We can provide a detailed examination of your child's eyes to determine if they are a candidate for glasses, and to determine precisely the degree of correction their prescription should provide. There are frames and lenses designed to provide toddlers with comfort and safety while helping them achieve focus.
Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops
Atropine eye drops may slow down the progression of myopia by keeping the eye from becoming elongated (the fundamental cause of nearsightedness). It is typically prescribed for two to three years to children between the ages of 5 and 18. They are administered each night before bed.
Ortho-K Contact Lenses
These contact lenses are worn overnight to flatten the cornea during sleep. When they are removed during the day, the temporarily reshaped cornea directs light properly onto the retina, improving distance vision. Although the correction is temporary, wearing ortho-k lenses reduce myopia progression permanently.
Lifestyle
Research is showing that children develop nearsightedness today more commonly than in years past. It is believed that near-focused activity indoors, including watching screens, playing video games, and even reading, may increase the risk of myopia. We recommend limiting screentime and making sure your child spends plenty of time outdoors.
“Highly recommend!”
“I can’t say enough good things about this practice and have consistently received excellent care. Highly recommend!”
Devorah K., 5-Star Google Review
