Let’s be real, when your kid gets a myopia diagnosis your first reaction might be: “No big deal, we’ll get them some glasses.”
Easy fix, right? Not quite.
While glasses are great for helping kids see clearly now, they don’t stop the condition itself from progressing. And that progression? It matters more than most people realise.
Myopia is more than just a bit of blurry vision - it’s a long-term eye health condition that can carry serious risks down the track if it’s not managed early.
Myopia is progressive—especially in kids
Myopia often starts during primary school years and tends to worsen as kids grow.
The younger it starts, the more time it has to progress, which means they’ll need a higher prescription by the time they hit adulthood.
“Every dioptre - the unit of measurement optometrists use to determine how strong a lens needs to be to correct someone’s vision - of myopia increases the risk of sight-threatening conditions later in life” said Luke Arundel, Chief Clinical Officer at Optometry Australia.
We’re talking about risks like:
- Retinal detachment
- Myopic macular degeneration
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
So, while thicker glasses might seem like a minor inconvenience, the long-term risks can be life changing.
What does myopia management actually mean?
Managing myopia means doing more than just correcting the vision. It means taking proactive steps to slow the rate of progression, ideally starting as early as possible.
The earlier you intervene, the better the chance of keeping your child’s prescription lower for longer. There’s a growing toolbox of evidence-based options:
- Specialised myopia control glasses or contact lenses with advanced optics- these use unique lens designs to reduce eye growth signals
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) - custom lenses worn overnight that reshape the cornea temporarily
- Low-dose atropine eye drops - used nightly, they help slow down the elongation of the eye.
Each approach works differently, and the best option depends on your child’s age, lifestyle and degree of myopia.
“This isn’t about stopping myopia entirely but if we can reduce the final prescription by even a few dioptres, we significantly reduce their risk of future eye disease.”
The role of lifestyle: screens, near work and the great outdoors
Tech isn’t going anywhere and we’re not here to demonise screens. But how kids use screens and how much time they spend indoors does play a role in how fast myopia progresses.
Encouraging your child to take regular breaks from close-up work (like reading, homework or gaming) and making sure they spend as much time outdoors every day, can help protect their eyes.
“Two hours of sun safe outdoor time a day is the gold standard. Daylight exposure helps regulate eye growth and it’s one of the simplest things parents can encourage and support at home.”
So, what should you do?
Start with an eye exam with your trusted, local optometrist.
A full check-up will assess not just your child’s current vision and eye health, but whether they’re showing early signs of pre-myopia. If your child is diagnosed with myopia, you can talk about a tailored management plan. It’s worth knowing that many optometrists now offer dedicated myopia management services - something that wasn’t common a decade ago.
Futureproofing your child’s vision isn’t about panic. It’s about being proactive and informed.
Myopia doesn’t have to mean a lifetime of worsening eyesight, but it does require action now.
Want to find an optometrist near you? Use our Find an optometrist tool to book your child’s next eye exam today!
