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Myopia, also called short-sightedness, causes blurred distance vision. In children, it can worsen as the eye grows longer than expected.
At Innovative Eye Care, we provide evidence-based myopia prevention, control and management in Adelaide and Henley Beach. Our goal is to help your child see clearly now, while also reducing the risk of their myopia becoming worse over time.
Myopia management is more than updating glasses. It involves understanding your child’s risk, measuring eye growth, choosing the right treatment and reviewing progress over time.
Myopia occurs when light focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This can happen when the eye grows too long, or when the eye’s focusing power is too strong. The result is clearer near vision and blurred distance vision.
When myopia is linked to eye growth, it needs careful monitoring. As the eye lengthens, the tissues at the back of the eye stretch. This can increase the risk of serious eye disease later in life.
Myopia management is a structured plan to slow the progression of short-sightedness.
It may include:
The right plan depends on your child’s age, prescription, eye shape, lifestyle, family history and how quickly their eyes are changing.
Myopia is common, and it is becoming more common in children worldwide. Research suggests that almost half of the global population may be myopic by 2050.1
For many children, myopia starts as a practical problem. They may struggle to see the board at school, read road signs, play sport clearly, or recognise faces across a room.
The bigger concern is long-term eye health. Higher levels of myopia increase the lifetime risk of eye conditions such as myopic macular degeneration, retinal detachment, glaucoma and cataract.2
This does not mean every child with myopia will develop eye disease. It means we should take progressive myopia seriously and aim to slow it where possible.
Not all myopia can be prevented. Family history, age, ethnicity, near work, screen habits and outdoor time can all influence risk.
Outdoor time has the strongest lifestyle evidence. Children who spend more time outdoors have a lower risk of developing myopia, and school-based trials have shown that increasing outdoor time can reduce new cases of myopia.3,4
Outdoor time is most helpful before myopia starts. Once a child is already myopic and their prescription is progressing, they may also need active myopia control treatment.
Practical prevention advice includes:
Your child may need a myopia assessment if they:
The younger myopia starts, the more time it has to progress. Early assessment helps us decide whether monitoring alone is enough, or whether treatment should start.
We begin with a full eye examination. This checks your child’s vision, prescription, eye focusing, eye coordination and ocular health.
We also ask about school, sport, screen use, reading habits, outdoor time, family history and previous prescription changes.
Axial length is the front-to-back length of the eye.
In progressive myopia, the eye usually grows too long. Measuring axial length helps us track whether the eye is growing at a normal rate or whether myopia is progressing.
This gives us more information than prescription alone. A child’s prescription can sometimes appear stable for a period, while eye growth still needs monitoring.
Some myopia control options need more detailed eye shape measurements.
For Ortho-K, we use corneal topography to map the shape of the front surface of the eye. This helps us assess whether night lenses are suitable and supports accurate lens design.
There is no single best myopia control treatment for every child.
We consider:
Myopia management is ongoing. Reviews help us check whether treatment is working and whether the plan needs to change.
At these visits, we may check vision, prescription, axial length, eye health, lens fit and treatment compliance.
Myopia control spectacle lenses are often a good first option for children who are not ready for contact lenses.
These lenses look like normal glasses, but they use special optical designs to help slow myopia progression. They correct your child’s central vision while also providing a treatment effect across other parts of the lens.
Several myopia control spectacle lens designs have been shown to slow prescription change and eye growth compared with standard single vision lenses.
Myopia control glasses may suit children who:
Orthokeratology uses custom rigid contact lenses worn during sleep. The lenses gently reshape the front surface of the eye overnight, giving clear vision during the day without daytime glasses or contact lenses.
Ortho-K can also help slow myopia progression in suitable children.5,6
Ortho-K may suit children who:
Because Ortho-K involves overnight contact lens wear, careful fitting, cleaning and follow-up are essential.
Soft myopia control contact lenses are worn during the day. They can give clear vision while also helping slow myopia progression.7,8
Some children prefer this option because the lenses are comfortable, convenient and useful for sport. Daily disposable designs can also simplify cleaning and reduce handling steps.
Soft myopia control contact lenses may suit children who:
Atropine eye drops can help slow myopia progression in some children.
Low-dose atropine is usually used to reduce the risk of side effects such as light sensitivity and near blur. Research has shown that low concentrations can slow myopia progression, with stronger effects seen at some higher low-dose concentrations.9
Atropine may be considered when:
Some children still need glasses or contact lenses while using atropine.
Some children continue to progress despite treatment. In these cases, we may consider combining treatments.
For example, a child may use atropine with a myopia control spectacle lens, soft contact lens, or Ortho-K lens.
Combination treatment is not needed for every child. It depends on the rate of progression, axial length growth, age, risk level and how well the current treatment is working.
The best treatment is the one that suits your child and is used correctly.
For some children, myopia control glasses are the most practical starting point. For others, Ortho-K or soft contact lenses may give better lifestyle benefits. Some children may need atropine, either alone or with another treatment.
During your child’s assessment, we explain each option clearly. We discuss expected benefits, limitations, safety, handling, review needs and costs.
Your child should have a myopia assessment as soon as short-sightedness is detected.
This is especially important if:
Starting earlier gives us the best chance to reduce progression before myopia becomes higher.
Review timing depends on your child’s treatment and risk level.
Many children need review every 3 to 6 months. Some need earlier review after starting contact lenses, Ortho-K or atropine.
At review appointments, we may check:
Myopia often starts in childhood, but it can keep changing during the teenage years and sometimes into early adulthood.
Teenagers and young adults may still benefit from monitoring and treatment if their prescription or axial length is changing.
Management may include myopia control contact lenses, Ortho-K, spectacle lens options, atropine in selected cases, lifestyle advice and regular reviews.
Innovative Eye Care provides personalised myopia prevention, control and management in Adelaide and Henley Beach.
Our approach includes:
We focus on your child’s vision now and their long-term eye health.
Book your appointment now for personalised eye care tailored just for you.