As a parent, it’s natural to want to explore every option to protect your child’s vision and future eye health, especially after they are diagnosed with myopia. While we can’t reverse myopia once it develops, we have powerful tools to slow its progression and prevent it from worsening.
Each child’s situation and needs are unique. After performing a comprehensive eye examination, their eye doctor can offer personalized advice on which myopia management method, or combination of techniques, will be most effective in slowing the progression of the refractive error.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive error that affects how your child sees distant objects. When someone has myopia, their eyes are essentially too powerful for their length, or more commonly, too long for their focusing power, because of the physical changes in their eyeball.
The condition typically develops during childhood and adolescence, often between ages 6 and 14. During these growth years, children’s eyes are still developing, and rapid changes in eye length can occur. This is why myopia often seems to “get worse” quickly during the school years.
Signs your child might have myopia include:
- Squinting to see distant objects
- Sitting close to the television or the whiteboard
- Holding books very close while reading
- Frequent headaches or eye strain
- Difficulty seeing clearly during sports or outdoor activities
Why Myopia Can’t Be Reversed
Once the eye has grown longer than normal, it cannot be made shorter again. Think of it like height: once your child grows taller, they don’t shrink back down.
Myopia occurs when the eyeball becomes too long from front to back. This elongation causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, making distant objects appear blurry. This structural change is permanent.
Why Slowing Myopia Matters
You might wonder why it’s so important to slow myopia progression if glasses or contacts can correct the vision. The answer lies in understanding the long-term risks associated with higher levels of myopia.
As myopia progresses, the eye continues to stretch and elongate. This change doesn’t just affect how your child sees. It also increases the risk of vision-threatening eye conditions later in life.
High myopia significantly increases the risk of:
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
Who Should Consider Myopia Management?
Myopia management is most effective when started early, ideally when myopia is first detected or when a child shows signs of rapid progression. Consider myopia management if:
- Your child has been diagnosed with myopia, especially at a young age
- There’s a family history of myopia as genetics plays a significant role
- Your child’s prescription has increased rapidly over the past year
- Your child spends limited time outdoors
- Your child engages in extensive near work (reading, device use, homework)
Personalized Myopia Management
Every child is unique, and the most effective myopia management approach depends on various factors, including age, lifestyle, degree of myopia, and rate of progression.
Orthokeratology Lenses (Ortho-K)
Ortho-k involves wearing specially designed rigid contact lenses overnight. These lenses gently reshape the cornea while your child sleeps, providing clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or contacts.
Ortho-k not only corrects vision, but has been shown to slow myopia progression in many children. The treatment is completely reversible, so if your child stops wearing the lenses, their cornea returns to its original shape.
Ortho-k works particularly well for children who:
- Are responsible enough to follow proper lens care routines
- Want freedom from glasses during sports and activities
- Have parents who can supervise the initial adjustment period
- Don’t have significant dry eye or allergies
Multifocal Eyeglasses & Contacts
Multifocal lenses contain different zones with varying focusing powers. Unlike traditional single-vision lenses that only correct distance vision, multifocal lenses also help reduce the eye strain associated with close work.
These specialized lenses help manage myopia by changing how light focuses on the peripheral retina. Experts agree that specific multifocal designs can slow myopia progression.
Active children and teens often prefer multifocal contacts, while multifocal glasses work well for younger children or those who choose not to wear contacts.
Lifestyle Changes
While optical and medical treatments are highly effective, lifestyle modifications can also support myopia management:
- Increase outdoor time: Spending time outdoors daily has been shown to reduce the risk of myopia and slow its progression.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes during close work, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This helps relax the focusing muscles.
- Maintain proper reading distance: Encourage your child to hold books and devices at arm’s length rather than very close to their face.
- Ensure good lighting: Adequate lighting reduces eye strain during reading and homework.
- Limit screen time: While digital devices don’t directly cause myopia, excessive close work can contribute to progression.
Protect Your Child’s Vision with Spectrum Eye Care
While we cannot reverse myopia, we can manage its progression and protect your child’s long-term eye health.
At Spectrum Eye Care, we’re committed to providing comprehensive myopia management tailored to your child’s unique needs. Our evidence-based treatments, combined with regular monitoring and adjustments, can make a significant difference in your child’s visual future. Contact us today to book an appointment.
