Myopia, or nearsightedness, often begins during childhood and can progress as the eyes grow. A child with myopia usually sees nearby objects clearly but may have difficulty seeing things farther away, such as the board at school or street signs
At NORViSTA Eye Care in North Vancouver, we look beyond simply whether a child needs glasses. We also consider whether their prescription and eye growth suggest that myopia may continue to progress
What Signs Should Parents Watch For?
Children do not always realize that their vision is blurry. Signs can include squinting to see distant objects, difficulty seeing the board at school, sitting unusually close to the television, or frequent prescription changes
A comprehensive eye examination can identify vision changes that may otherwise be easy to miss
Why Do Some Children Develop Myopia?
Myopia develops through a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Children with one or both parents who are myopic are more likely to develop myopia themselves.
Less time outdoors and prolonged periods of close work, including reading and digital-device use, have also been associated with myopia development and progression
Can a Child Be at Risk Before Becoming Myopic?
Young children are normally somewhat farsighted, and this usually decreases gradually as the eyes grow. A child who has less farsightedness than expected for their age, or reaches essentially no prescription earlier than expected, may be at greater risk of developing myopia. Children with a strong family history of myopia, rapid prescription changes, or increasing eye growth may benefit from closer monitoring even before significant myopia develops.
Why Does Myopia Progression Matter?
Myopia is more than simply needing stronger glasses. Higher levels of myopia are associated with an increased lifetime risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, myopic macular degeneration, and other retinal complications. The goal of myopia management is to slow progression and excessive axial eye growth, potentially reducing the amount of myopia a child develops over time.
How Can Childhood Myopia Be Managed?
Depending on the child, myopia management may include specialized myopia-control spectacle lenses, myopia-control soft contact lenses, low-dose atropine eye drops, selected combination therapy, and regular monitoring of prescription changes and eye growth. Options may include MiYOSMART® and Stellest® spectacle lenses, as well as MiSight® 1 day and ACUVUE® ABILITI® 1-Day soft contact lenses, when clinically appropriate. The most appropriate approach depends on the child’s age, prescription, family history, rate of progression, eye growth, lifestyle, and individual needs.
What Can Parents Do?
Parents can encourage regular outdoor time, avoid long uninterrupted periods of close work, promote comfortable working distances for reading and digital devices, and make sure children have regular eye examinations.
Children who are already myopic, or who have significant risk factors for developing myopia, may benefit from closer monitoring so changes in prescription and eye growth can be identified early.
When Should Your Child Have an Eye Exam?
Consider an eye examination if your child is squinting, having difficulty seeing at distance, experiencing frequent prescription changes, or has a strong family history of myopia. Early assessment allows us to identify risk, monitor changes, and consider myopia-management strategies before significant progression occurs.
Learn More About Myopia Control
At NORViSTA Eye Care in North Vancouver, we assess your child’s prescription, eye health, family history, risk factors, and eye growth to determine whether closer monitoring or myopia management should be considered.