It might start with your child squinting to see the whiteboard. Maybe they’re holding books closer or complaining they can’t see the TV properly. Or maybe, and quite often, there are no signs to see at all.
You take them to the optometrist for a routine eye examination and boom—they’re diagnosed with myopia, also known as short-sightedness.
No big deal, right? Just glasses? Not quite.
“What many Aussie parents don’t realise is that myopia is more than a vision issue - it’s a progressive eye condition with long-term health risks, if left unmanaged. And it's becoming more common, more severe and showing up earlier in life than ever before,” said Katherine Whittaker, optometrist and a National Professional Services Advisor at Optometry Australia.
What’s driving the rise in myopia?
The global rise in myopia is nothing short of dramatic. In Australia, the trend is clear.
According to a 2023 study from the Brien Holden Vision Institute, around 36% of Australians are myopic—a figure that’s set to jump to over 50% by 2040 if current patterns continue.
What’s even more concerning? Myopia is increasing, not just in number, but in severity. The proportion of children with high myopia (where the prescription is -5.00D or worse) is also rising.
“Children are being diagnosed younger and their prescriptions are progressing faster than in previous generations. This isn’t just about getting glasses sooner - it’s about their lifelong risk of serious eye disease.”
What’s actually happening to the eye?
In myopia, the eyeball grows longer than it should. That messes with the way light focuses onto the eye, making far-away objects appear blurry.
But it’s not just blurry vision—this elongation also causes physical stress on the eye, particularly the retina and surrounding tissues.
“The longer the eye, the thinner the retina becomes. That increases the risk of things like retinal detachment, macular degeneration and glaucoma—especially if the myopia progresses to high levels.”
Australian data: the myopia epidemic is real
Some eye-opening (pardon the pun) stats from Aussie research:
- A 2022 survey by Optometry Australia found that 41% of optometrists are seeing more children under 12 presenting with myopia than five years ago.
- Kids with one myopic parent are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop myopia. With two myopic parents? That risk jumps to 5 to 6 times.
So, what happens if myopia isn’t managed?
Unmanaged or poorly managed myopia can lead to a range of serious conditions, especially later in life:
How can you protect your child’s vision? It’s simple!
When it comes to myopia, playing defence isn’t enough - we need to go on the offence.
That’s why we have launched a new myopia awareness campaign with an easy to remember, three-step reminder for parents and carers to help protect their kid’s vision:
Off Screens, Outside, Optometrist.
Let’s break it down:
- Off Screens - dial back the device time. We’re not about piling on the parenting guilt, but too much screen use and close-up work can ramp up the risk of myopia. Doing your best to encourage regular screen breaks and mixing it up with activities that don’t involve staring at a screen is a huge step in the right direction.
- Outside - kids need at least two hours of (sun smart!) outdoor time every day. Natural light supports healthy eye development and helps delay the onset of myopia. Park hangs, backyard cricket, homework on the deck - whatever works! Just be sure to pop on a hat, smear on the sunscreen and slip on a pair of sunnies to ensure everyone is protected from UV rays.
- Optometrist - it might be the last step in our OOO acronym, however it’s arguably the most important one! Be sure to book in regular eye exams, even if your child isn’t complaining. Myopia often flies under the radar in the early stages. The sooner it’s picked up, the easier it is to manage. Optometry Australia recommends taking your child for their first eye exam the year they start primary school and then every year after, until they turn 18.
Myopia management treatments
Today’s treatments go beyond basic glasses. Depending on your child’s age and needs, your optometrist might recommend:
- Specialised spectacle lenses
- Myopia control contact lenses
- Low-dose atropine eye drops
These have been clinically proven to slow the progression of myopia in kids.
“Our goal isn’t to stop prescribing glasses altogether - it’s to slow the eye’s growth and reduce the risk of eye disease later in life. That’s why early diagnosis and proactive management are vital.”
Don’t wait—act early
Myopia isn’t something to ‘wait and see’. The earlier it’s detected, the better the outcomes.
By booking an eye exam and chatting to a trusted optometrist about myopia control, you’re taking a huge step to protect your child’s future vision.
Want to find an optometrist near you? Use our Find an optometrist tool to book your child’s next eye exam today!
