Myopia, or short-sightedness, is a common condition where you can see things clearly up close, but struggle with objects that are far away. In everyday life, someone with myopia might find it hard to read road signs while driving, or have trouble seeing the board in class. If a child has myopia, they might squint or frown to try and make things clearer when they’re looking at something far off.
What Is Myopia?
What causes myopia?
Myopia, or short-sightedness, is a refractive error caused by the eyeball growing too long. This means when light enters the eye, the eye doesn’t bend light correctly. The light entering the eye then fails to form a clear focus on the light-sensitive retina in the back of the eye. The result is blurry distance vision. A child with myopia may squint or frown when trying to see distant objects clearly.
The Growing Myopia Epidemic
Myopia is a rapidly increasing epidemic. By 2050, it has been projected that over 50% of the world will be short-sighted and 10% of the world will be highly short-sighted.
The prevalence of childhood myopia has nearly doubled over the past five years. Myopia in children generally progresses quickly and can become worse with age. There is also a high correlation between Myopia in children and increased risk of eye diseases in their later adult life.
Genetic Risk Factors for Myopia
Lifestyle Risk Factors for Myopia
Long-Term Risk Factors of Myopia
Whilst the most immediate effects of myopia are a reduction in vision, it can also significantly increase the risk of acquiring sight-threatening diseases such as retinal detachment, cataracts and glaucoma later on in life. The following table shows the risks associated with low, moderate and high levels of myopia.
Early Detection Can Help Prevent Myopia
Optometrist Dr. Soojin Nam explains the importance of early myopia detection and how our team is specially trained to identify children at risk of developing myopia before it becomes a problem. With the right tools and expertise, we can spot signs early and provide proactive care to help manage or prevent worsening vision.
Common Eye Diseases Associated with Myopia
The more severe the myopia, the greater the risk of developing serious eye conditions. As myopia increases, it can lead to complications such as Glaucoma, Cataracts, Retinal Detachment, and Myopia Maculopathy. Early detection and regular eye exams are crucial to managing these risks and maintaining eye health.
Are Spectacles Enough to Fix Myopia?
Here’s What You Need to Know
The most common corrective measure for myopia in children is to have them wear spectacles. However, research shows that single-vision lenses, whilst they may help your child see clearly, do nothing to stop myopia from getting worse.
The good news is many studies have been performed which demonstrate statistically which methods have the best chance of stabilising changing vision due to progressive myopia.
Proven, Evidence-Based Myopia Solutions Tailored for Your Child
Eyecare Kids optometrists are very passionate about myopia management and collectively had extensive training, experience and access to the latest proven methods that aim to slow down myopia progression in children.
It is important to realise that there are many methods to proactively treat myopia. We should not be contented with just changing spectacles every time prescription increases—when there is a better way! Don’t settle for what’s always been done before when there is evidence-based research on treatment options.
Download for FREE The Little Guide to Myopia Management
FAQs about Myopia from Parents and Guardians
Unfortunately, the effects of myopia (short-sightedness) can’t be completely reversed. Once a child develops myopia, their vision will likely continue to worsen, but the good news is that there are treatments and management options that can slow down or control the progression of myopia, such as special contact lenses or glasses, as well as certain eye drops. It’s important to consult with your optometrist to find the best option for your child. (Source: Optometry Australia)
It’s recommended that children have their first eye exam at around 6 months of age, followed by additional exams at 3 years and again before starting school. After that, it’s usually advised to have an eye test every two years, or more often if your child shows any signs of vision problems. Regular eye exams are important, as myopia can develop or progress without any obvious symptoms. (Source: Optometry Australia)
For children with myopia, wearing glasses or contact lenses is important for clear vision, but they can take breaks from wearing them when doing activities that don’t require sharp distance vision, like reading or using devices. However, for outdoor activities or schoolwork, glasses or contacts should be worn regularly to avoid straining the eyes. If you’re considering any break periods, it’s always best to discuss it with your optometrist. (Source: Optometry Australia)
Yes, there are several ways to slow down the progression of myopia in children. Research has shown that spending more time outdoors and less time on close-up activities (like reading or screen use) can help. Special contact lenses or glasses designed to control myopia can also be effective. Another option is using eye drops, which have been shown to slow the worsening of myopia in some children. It’s important to work closely with your optometrist to find the best approach for your child. (Source: Vision 2020 Australia)
While there are no proven exercises to reverse or cure myopia, there are some things your child can do to help reduce eye strain and support eye health, such as regularly taking breaks when reading or using screens (the 20-20-20 rule: look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes). Spending more time outdoors is also linked to lower rates of myopia development. However, specific exercises for improving vision aren’t currently recommended as a solution for myopia. (Source: Australian Myopia Control Research Group)
Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long from front to back, or the cornea (the clear front part of the eye) is too curved. This causes light entering the eye to focus in front of the retina, making distant objects blurry. The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but both genetic and environmental factors play a role. If parents have myopia, their children are more likely to develop it too. Spending too much time on near tasks like reading or looking at screens, and not enough time outdoors, are also believed to contribute to the development and worsening of myopia in children. (Source: Optometry Australia)
