You’ve probably heard someone say, “Bad eyesight runs in the family.”
And when it comes to myopia (short-sightedness), they’re not wrong; genetics definitely play a role.
But they’re not the whole story—and they’re not the end of the story, either.
If you or your child’s other parent needed glasses from a young age, your child has a higher chance of developing myopia too. But that doesn’t mean it’s inevitable or unstoppable.
Myopia might run in families but by being prepared and proactive, you can slow it down and reduce the long-term impact on your child’s eye health.
Genetics load the gun, but environment pulls the trigger
“There’s a strong hereditary component to myopia but lifestyle plays just as big a role. Kids today spend a lot more time indoors, doing near work on screens and devices, and far less time outdoors. That shift has had a major impact on the rise of childhood myopia,” said Luke Arundel, Chief Clinical Officer at Optometry Australia.
Statistically, if one parent is myopic, the risk for your child is about three times higher. If both parents are myopic, that risk jumps to around six times higher.
But here’s the empowering part: you can influence how early myopia starts and how fast it progresses even if it’s in the genes.
Modern research shows that early routine eye exams, smart screen habits and time spent outdoors can all make a meaningful difference.
In fact, we now know that myopia is driven by both biology and behaviour.
Your child might inherit the tendency for myopia—but the environment they grow up in determines whether (and how fast) it develops.
Start early with eye exams
One of the best things you can do is get your child’s eyes tested early. Ideally, their first full eye exam should happen the year they start primary school then annually after that.
Even if your child isn’t complaining about blurry vision, don’t wait.
Kids often don’t realise their sight is off because they have nothing to compare it to. And school vision screenings (if they happen at all) aren’t enough; they are typically done only once at the start of school, can miss early signs of pre-myopia and usually don’t assess eye health.
As technology and detection for myopia improves, optometrists can also identify markers for pre-myopia, where a child is more likely to develop the condition than their peers (but still currently seeing clearly) and discuss lifestyle modifications to help reduce the risk of myopia development.
Make outdoor time a daily habit
Here’s the simplest, most science-backed lifestyle tweak you can make: get your child outdoors more often.
Natural daylight has been shown to help regulate healthy eye growth and reduce the risk of developing myopia in the first place.
The current recommendation? At least two hours of sun safe time outside each day.
This doesn’t mean bootcamp or bushwalking - just regular playtime in the backyard, a park or any open outdoor space. Even winter days count, as long as it’s daylight.
“If there’s one thing parents can start encouraging more of today, it’s outdoor time. It’s free, it’s accessible and it’s effective.”
Build healthy screen habits (without going full anti-tech)
We live in a digital world. No one’s expecting you to ban screens but how your child uses them matters.
The more time kids spend doing ‘near work’ (that includes reading, writing, drawing and using devices), the more strain they place on their eyes.
Long, uninterrupted periods of close-up focus can contribute to myopia progression.
This isn’t about ditching devices. It’s about making screen time smarter, especially during homework or downtime.
“Introducing regular breaks (set a timer to help), enabling tech options like Apple’s Screen Distance feature - which uses the TrueDepth camera (on supported models) to detect when you hold your device too close for extended periods and encourages you to move it farther away - or just applying our ‘elbow rule’ (get kids to make a fist, stick it on their chin and ensure screens are not held closer than their elbow distance away) can all help here.”
Ask your optometrist about myopia management
The biggest shift in eye care over the past decade? We now know how to actively manage myopia, not just correct it with glasses.
If your child is showing signs of myopia or is at risk due to family history, ask your optometrist about myopia management options. These can include:
- Specialised glasses or contact lenses that reduce the eye’s growth signals
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the eye
- Low-dose atropine eye drops that slow the elongation of the eye
These approaches won’t “cure” myopia, but they can help reduce how much it progresses over time and that dramatically lowers the risk of future eye disease.
“Managing myopia is about protecting long-term vision. High myopia can cause cataracts, glaucoma and retinal problems so if we can prevent or limit myopia progression now it will make a difference for our kids in the decades to come.”
You can’t change the genes—but you can change the outcome
Knowing that myopia runs in your family gives you a head start. You already know what to look for and you can take action before things escalate. The earlier you step in, the more tools you have.
You can’t rewrite your child’s DNA but with the right support, you can help them enjoy clearer vision now and healthier eyes for life.
Want to find an optometrist near you? Use our Find an optometrist tool to book your child’s next eye exam today!
