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Myopia, also known as being short sighted, is where things in the distance look blurry, but close-up objects remain clear. People with myopia might find that road signs, the board at school, or faces across a room difficult to see, even though reading or using a phone feels normal.
It happens because the eye focuses light in front of the retina (the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye) instead of directly on it. This usually means the eye has grown slightly too long.
Myopia can begin at any age but most often starts in childhood and can gradually increase as children grow.
Myopia develops due to a combination of genetics and everyday lifestyle factors. The main factors include:
Family history: Children are more likely to develop myopia if one or both parents are short sighted.
Close work: Long periods spent focusing on near tasks, such as reading, homework or screens, can increase the risk.
Low time outdoors: Children who spend less time outside in natural daylight are more likely to become myopic.
Myopia is very common and the blurred vision can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. The concern arises when myopia becomes higher. As the eye grows longer, it increases the lifetime risk of certain eye conditions, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration.
These risks remain low, and many of these conditions may be able to be treated if identified early. However, the risk does increase as myopia gets higher, which is why monitoring children’s eye growth and managing myopia early can help protect their long-term eye health.
Standard glasses or contact lenses can correct the blurred distance vision caused by myopia, but they do not slow down how quickly it increases. Myopia management refers to a group of specialist treatments designed to slow the progression of myopia during childhood.
These treatments do not stop or reverse myopia, but research shows they can reduce its progression by around 50 to 60 percent on average. By keeping myopia at a lower level, we can help reduce the risk of eye health problems later in life while keeping vision clear and comfortable.
What are the Options for Myopia Management?
There are specially designed glasses and contact lenses that can help slow the progression of myopia in children. Your optometrist will recommend the options that best suit your child’s vision, age, and lifestyle.
These treatments work by gently changing how light focuses on the retina while still providing clear, comfortable vision.
These spectacle lenses are designed to slow eye growth by controlling how light enters the eye. They look just like normal glasses and are worn in exactly the same way. Common examples include MiyoSMART and MyoCare.
Soft Contact Lenses: These are available as daily or monthly lenses. They correct vision in the usual way but also use a special optical design to slow myopia progression. Examples include MiSight, NaturalVue, and Mylo.
Orthokeratology(Ortho-K): These are specially designed rigid lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the front of the eye while your child sleeps. This gives clear vision throughout the day without glasses or daytime lenses and also slows myopia progression. You can read more on our dedicated Orthokeratology page.
There is no minimum age for starting myopia management. Myopia often increases as children grow, and it can progress more quickly when it begins at a younger age. Starting treatment early gives the best chance of slowing this progression and helping to reduce the level of myopia a child may have as an adult.
To begin myopia management, your child will need an up-to-date eye examination. Contact our practice and we will arrange an appointment at a time that suits you.
At the visit, the optometrist will check your child’s vision and eye health, measure their prescription, and advise whether myopia management is recommended. Our team will then discuss the available options and help you choose the most suitable approach.
Booking is simple. Call, email, or call in and we’ll be happy to help.
Yes. Children can safely and successfully wear contact lenses, and research shows that they often look after their lenses better than many adults!
There is no strict age limit. What matters the most is that your child is ready to follow simple hygiene routines, such as washing their hands and looking after their lenses properly.
Contact lenses can be a great option for active children, especially for sport. We will guide you and your child through the whole process, ensure the lenses fit comfortably, and teach them how to use and care for them confidently and safely.
If you would like to learn more about myopia and myopia management, this trusted resource is a great place to start:
A dedicated parent resource with clear information and guidance on childhood myopia.
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