What is Myopia?
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common refractive error where distant objects appear blurry while close objects can be seen clearly. It occurs when the eye’s shape causes light rays to bend (refract) incorrectly, focusing images in front of the retina rather than directly on it.
What Causes Myopia?
Myopia has been proven to be caused by the eye growing longer than necessary for clear vision. This change in “axial length” causes a person’s distance vision to become out of focus and blurry.

What Are the Risk Factors for Developing Myopia?
Several risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing myopia (nearsightedness). A few examples of these factors are:
- Genetics:
- Prolonged Near Work:
- Lack of Outdoor Activity:
- Age:
Family History: If one or both parents have myopia, there’s a higher chance their children will develop it. Myopia tends to run in families.
Reading or studying: Spending long hours doing activities that require focusing on close objects, like reading, writing, or working on computers or smartphones, can increase the risk of myopia, especially in children.
Screen Time: Excessive use of digital devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or computers, without breaks has been linked to a rise in myopia cases, particularly among younger people.
Reduced time Outdoors: Studies have shown that children who spend more time indoors and less time outdoors re at a higher risk of developing myopia. Natural light exposure and looking at distant objects while outside may help prevent or slow its progression.
Early Onset: Children who develop myopia at an early age are more likely to experience progressive myopia, where the condition worsens over time. The younger the onset, the higher the risk for severe myopia in adulthood.
Why is Myopia a Concern?
While mild myopia may not present significant health risk, high myopia (Severe cases) can increase the risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life, such as:
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Myopic maculopathy (damage to the central part of the retina)
Myopia, especially when it progresses to high levels, can significantly affect daily life. As it worsens, individuals may struggle with basic tasks like driving, recognizing faces, or even safely navigating their surroundings without glasses or contacts. This loss of visual independence can lead to heightened anxiety and concerns about personal safety, particularly in situations that require quick reactions or clear sightlines.
When is the right time to Start Myopia Management for our children?
Children should be considered for myopia management as soon as they are diagnosed with progressive myopia, especially if they are at higher risk for significant vision deterioration. The top three key markers are:
- If your child is diagnosed with myopia at a young age (usually before age 10), it’s crucial to start management early, as younger children are more likely to experience faster progression.
- If your child’s myopia worsens by more than 0.50 diopters per year.
- If there’s a family history of high myopia.
What Are The Treatment Options For Myopia?
While there is currently no cure for myopia, there are various treatment options to manage and slow it’s progression.
- Spectacle Lenses
- Soft Daily Disposable Contact Lenses
- Orthokeratology
- Atropine Eye Drops
Bifocal lenses are used as a treatment option for managing myopia (nearsightedness) by offering different lens powers for near and distance vision. The top portion of the lens corrects distance vision, while the bottom portion helps with near task. For myopia management, bifocals can help reduce eye strain and slow the progression of myopia by reducing the focusing demand when looking at close objects. This has been shown to be 20% effective on prescription change.
These novel contact lenses are worn throughout the day (no over night wear). They have a customized optical profile to alter the focus of light coming from the periphery. They offer the same benefit as traditional daily disposable contact lenses with the added benefit of slowing myopic progression. Depending on the brand, these lenses slow down the rate of myopia progression by between 59-70%.
Orthokeratology utilizes specially designed rigid gas permeable contact lenses that are inserted at nighttime and removed upon awakening. This gently reshapes the surface of the eye, attempting to take your child’s prescription to zero (Plano). This has the benefit of decreasing the need for traditional glasses or contacts during the day, as well as the added benefit of reducing myopia progression by about 50%.
Low-dose atropine drops are given every night before bed time. Atropine relaxes the eye’s focusing mechanism, particularly in the part of the eye responsible for near vision. By relaxing this process, atropine helps to slow down the elongation of the eyeball, which is the primary cause of myopia progression. It has been shown to slow myopia progression by 50-60%.
Ask our doctors if myopia management may be right for your child at your next eye exam.