Myopia Control: Things you need to know

Myopia (or near-sightedness) occurs when the eye grows too long and focuses images in front of the retina, instead of on it. This results in blurry distance vision. 

We are not 100% sure why some children become myopic and others don't. We do know there is both a genetic component and an environmental component. Parents with myopia are likely to have children who are also myopic.

Other causes may be:

• Lack of exposure to daylight.
• Excessive up-close work, like reading or looking at a phone or tablet. 

Optometrists used to see myopia in patients at about age 12 but we are now seeing it in children much younger. Normally, myopia gradually progresses until the child stops growing around age 18 to 21.

In some children, the eyes grow much faster than average. This is called progressive myopia. Left untreated, progressive myopia may increase the risk of conditions like glaucoma or retinal detachment. 

We can't prevent myopia from progressing, but we can try to slow it down. While your child's prescription may still continue to change, it will change at a slower rate. This means they will have a lower risk of developing eye conditions later in life as a result of higher levels of myopia.