Managing Myopia as Your Child Grows
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is one of the most common vision conditions in children, and it often continues to progress as they grow. While glasses and contact lenses correct vision, they do not address how quickly the prescription can change over time.
Myopia control focuses on slowing that progression, helping protect long-term eye health and reducing the risk of stronger prescriptions in the future.
At Warman Eyecare, we offer evidence-based myopia control options designed to support your child’s vision as they grow, with care that is tailored to their individual needs.
The first step is an eye exam. Contact us to schedule your child’s next appointment today.
Signs of Myopia in Children
Myopia can develop slowly, and children may not always realize their vision is changing. Common signs include:
- Squinting to see distant objects
- Sitting too close to screens or the television
- Difficulty seeing the board at school
- Frequent headaches or eye strain
- Rubbing the eyes often
- Complaints of blurry distance vision
If you notice these signs, a comprehensive eye exam is recommended.
Myopia and Learning
Clear vision plays an important role in a child’s ability to learn and engage in the classroom. Undiagnosed or uncorrected myopia can make it harder to see the board, follow lessons, or stay focused during reading and writing tasks.
This can sometimes be mistaken for attention or learning challenges when the underlying issue is vision-related. Regular eye exams help make sure your child has the visual tools they need to succeed at school.
High Myopia and Long-Term Eye Health
High myopia refers to more advanced levels of nearsightedness. As myopia progresses, the eye elongates, which can increase the risk of more serious eye health conditions later in life.
High myopia has been associated with a higher risk of conditions such as retinal detachment, early cataracts, and other sight-threatening complications.
The goal of myopia control is to slow progression early, helping reduce the likelihood of reaching high levels of myopia over time.
What Types of Treatments Exist?
Currently, there are several evidence-informed approaches used to help slow the progression of myopia, including:
- MiSight 1 day contact lenses
- Multifocal eyeglasses
- Multifocal contact lenses
- Low-dose atropine eye drops
Myopia occurs when the eye is too long, or the cornea is too steep. As children grow older, their eyes grow with them, causing refractive errors to worsen progressively.
MiSight 1 day lenses by Coopervision help slow the growth of the eyes, limiting the progression of myopia. These revolutionary contact lenses are the first of their kind, offering the hygienic benefit that comes with single-use. Studies indicate that MiSight 1 day lenses could reduce the progression of myopia by 59% on average!
Multifocal eyeglasses are an easy way to help control myopia in children. The Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial (COMET) found that children who wore multifocal eyeglasses experienced a small but statistically significant slowing of myopia progression compared with regular single-vision lenses.
Multifocal contact lenses are another way you can help control your child’s myopia. These contact lenses have produced more impressive results than multifocal eyeglasses.
Multifocal contact lenses are special lenses that have different prescriptions in different areas of the lens, allowing them to correct nearsightedness in those with myopia while reducing eye strain at near. These contact lenses can be worn by individuals with or without astigmatism.
While low-dose atropine eye drops have been used to control myopia for years, they do have some drawbacks. They offer effective, short-term results but may lose their effectiveness after the first year of treatment, which may not control myopia significantly in the long run.
Atropine works by dilating the pupil, temporarily paralyzing the muscles that allow your eye to shift focus from distance to near. It tends to cause light sensitivity and blurred near vision.
Supporting Your Child’s Vision
Myopia cannot be reversed, but its progression can often be managed. The goal of myopia control is to support healthy vision development and reduce the long-term risks associated with worsening prescriptions.
If your child has myopia or you are noticing changes in their vision, a comprehensive eye exam is a great place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions About Myopia Control
Myopia control refers to treatments designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children, rather than only correcting blurred distance vision.
Myopia control is typically most effective when started in childhood as soon as myopia is detected, since the eye is still developing and changing.
No, myopia cannot be cured. However, it can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, and its progression can often be slowed with myopia control treatments.
Signs such as squinting, sitting close to screens, difficulty seeing the board at school, or frequent headaches may indicate myopia. A comprehensive eye exam is needed for diagnosis.
Yes, myopia control treatments such as multifocal lenses, atropine eye drops, and MiSight contact lenses are widely used and considered safe when prescribed and monitored by an optometrist.
Yes, most children will still need some form of vision correction. Myopia control focuses on slowing prescription changes over time, not eliminating glasses or contacts.
Children undergoing myopia control are typically monitored regularly to track prescription changes and make sure the treatment is working effectively. Their appointment schedule will be personalized to their needs and recommended when they begin treatment.
Screen time is not the only cause, but excessive near work and limited outdoor time may contribute to myopia development and progression.
High myopia can increase the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and early cataracts.
Start by booking a pediatric eye exam. We will assess your child’s vision and discuss whether myopia control options are appropriate.
Come Visit Us in Warman
Warman Eyecare is worth the visit! Stop in to say hi and to meet our staff. We’re down the street from the high school on Klassen Street and 6th Avenue, directly behind the Tim Hortons.
Our Address
Contact Information
- Phone: 306-700-3576
- Fax: 306-242-8674
- Email: wecadmin@yxevision.ca
After Hours Emergencies: 306-371-9911
Hours of Operation
*Closed, but we’d be happy to see you at Stonebridge Eyecare, Broadway Eyecare, Brighton Eyecare, or InVision Eyecare!
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