If your child’s prescription keeps getting stronger, you’re not alone, and it’s not inevitable.
Myopia progression is manageable with the right knowledge and intervention. Ignoring the progression of your child’s myopia will lead to lifelong side effects and additional diagnoses. Classic Vision Care is a trusted provider of myopia treatment and myopia control programs throughout Georgia.
What Myopia Progression Means for Your Child’s Future Vision Health
Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is a vision condition where distant objects appear blurry while close objects remain clear. Myopia typically worsens during childhood between the ages of 6 and 16. Myopia progresses as the child grows, worsening over time. Myopia ranges from mild to high, measured by the focus power of your child’s eye in dioptres.
Mild myopia includes a -3.00 diopters (D), moderate myopia includes a -3.00 to -6.00 D, and high myopia includes anything over -6.00 D. High myopia can develop if your child has posterior vitreous detachment, retinal detachment, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or cataracts.
These eye conditions are considered long-term risks that might develop in adulthood. Developing a long-term eye condition will severely impact your child’s quality of life, which is why early myopia control can change the trajectory of their vision.
Myopia affects approximately 30-40% of the global population. It continues to increase worldwide, mostly in children and young adults. Using screens, lack of outdoor activities, and genetics greatly affect your child’s chances of developing myopia, as well as the risk of their myopia progressing into mild or high levels.
The Science of the Elongated Eyeball: Axial Length Explained
An elongated eyeball can lead to myopia. When your child’s eyeball grows longer than normal, it causes light to focus incorrectly. They’ll experience blurred vision and difficulty seeing in low light, eye strain, headaches, and sensitivity to light.
Elongation of the eyeball typically can’t be reversed, but it can be slowed.
After diagnosing your child’s elongation using a retinoscope or phoropter, multifocal or corrective lenses might be prescribed. These glasses or contact lenses will focus light properly on the retina, halting the myopia progression. CRT (Corneal refractive therapy) lenses are specially made contact lenses that are worn overnight and will reshape the cornea and improve your child’s vision. Daily contact lenses slow down the progression of myopia.
Atropine eye drops are low-dose eye drops that will slow down the progression of myopia. If your child’s prescription is lower than -6.00 D, likely, your child won’t develop severe myopia symptoms. You can slow your child’s myopia progression with corrective lenses. It’s best to begin treatment before your child’s myopia symptoms worsen and lifelong symptoms begin.
Myopia Risk Factors: Genetics vs. Lifestyle
Myopia progression is multifactorial. The range of your child’s prescription will determine the severity of their symptoms. From light blurriness to severe eye conditions, myopia is a spectrum. If your child’s prescription is over -10.00 DD, they might need complex lenses or additional care.
Myopia can develop due to both genetic and environmental factors. Typically, children who read or use electronic devices might develop symptoms of myopia. If you have myopia, there is a chance that your child might be affected as well.
Although the severity might differ, there is a chance that your child will inherit similar symptoms, such as headaches or squinting. Children don’t know the difference between great eyesight and eyesight that is suffering. They’re used to the squinting and eye strain, which is why parents must be vigilant.
Parents must keep an eye on their child’s vision and the severity of their symptoms, as they might get worse as they get older. Without a diagnosis, your child will suffer unnecessarily. Stop their myopia progression before it develops into mild or high myopia, and possibly more serious eye damage.
Genetic Myopia Risk Factors
As a parent, there is a risk of passing myopia to your child. It’s not a guarantee, but there is a risk. Consider these statistics:
- Two myopic parents: 30-40% child risk
- One myopic parent: 20-25% risk
- No myopic parents: 10% risk
Genetics plays a part in the development of myopia, but it isn’t a simple case. Genetics creates predisposition, not destiny. A myopia diagnosis isn’t the end of the world; it’s the start of better eyesight and a better quality of life. It’s important to schedule early screenings for high-risk children. Typically, those with one or more parents with myopia are more susceptible to developing myopia in their lifetime.
Environmental and Lifestyle Myopia Risk Factors
Your child’s environment and their daily habits have an impact on their eyesight. There is a risk of developing myopia in children without genetically being exposed to it. There is a chance that your child will develop myopia if they are exposed to close-up activities such as using a laptop or smartphone, watching TV.
It’s best to instill screen time guidelines and the 20-20-20 rule, a guideline for preventing eye strain from screen use. Your child can reduce the risk of damaging their eye muscles by looking at an object 20 feet away from them, every 20 minutes for 20 seconds each time. They should take a break from their devices and get some time outside. A lack of outdoor time leads to the development of myopia.
Research shows that 1.5 to 2 hours of daily outdoor time will significantly reduce the progression of myopia. Natural light increases your dopamine release, and research has shown that an increase in dopamine will help regulate eye growth and development. A dopamine deficiency can lead to excessive eye elongation and, eventually, myopia.
Luckily, there are plenty of great outdoor activities in Georgia, like Piedmont Park or the Atlanta Botanical Garden, which are kid-friendly and interactive. There’s always a risk of developing myopia, which is why we recommend routine checkups at the eye doctor and having your child’s prescription assessed. An earlier diagnosis can also mean your child’s myopia will continue to progress as they get older, possibly developing into high myopia as they age.
The right myopia treatment is necessary to slow down the development of myopia in children before it is too late.
Understanding High Myopia and Its Serious Risks
High myopia is typically diagnosed when your child’s prescription is -6.00 diopters or greater. This can lead to serious complications, like retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, or early cataracts. The risk of high myopia continues to grow worldwide.
Recently, doctors have discovered that over 30% of the world is currently suffering from myopia. In the year 2000, over 163 million people around the world had high myopia, and the number has continued to increase. Prevent the development of myopia before it develops into a potentially blinding condition.
Why Early Intervention and Monitoring Matter
Myopia control tactics and treatment are most effective when started early. It’s important to schedule regular comprehensive eye exams every 6-12 months to evaluate your child’s eyesight and any signs of myopia progression. If there are signs of myopia, your child’s eye doctor will provide a treatment plan and monitor the development of their myopia.
A treatment plan is one form of prevention, but parents can also keep track of prescription changes. axial length measurements and the rate of progression, as these factors will determine if the treatment is effective. The “wait and see” method allows for preventable elongation, a side effect that will cause lifelong damage if not treated.
Waiting won’t make myopia go away; it will likely get worse if your child maintains the same habits. Our methods to control and treat myopia in children will put a stop to the development, improving your child’s vision day by day.
Taking Control: Evidence-Based Myopia Management Options
Classic Vision Care offers comprehensive, personalized myopia control programs throughout Georgia. There isn’t a single method that works best. Depending on the severity of your child’s myopia, their treatment plan might differ from another case that’s less or more severe. There are several evidence-based treatments available:
- Multi-Focal Lenses– Childsafe contact lenses or glasses that improve vision over time. These lenses combine multiple lens powers to manage your child’s myopia.
- MiSight Lenses– Daily contact lenses that are clinically approved to reduce the progression of your child’s myopia.
- Ortho-K and CRT Lenses– Specialty lenses that are worn overnight, reshaping your cornea as you sleep. These lenses temporarily improve your child’s vision during the day, when used regularly.
- Atropine eye drops– Low-dose eye drops that are easy to use and convenient for children. These eye drops slow down the progression of myopia.
Protect Your Child’s Vision: Schedule a Myopia Control Consultation
Every month of myopia progression matters. Each day that passes, your child’s eyes continue to strain, and their eyesight will worsen. Take the first step, which is to make daily changes to their screen time and outdoor activities.
Schedule your child’s regular eye exam to discuss their myopia progression. Proactive care and early intervention are the best methods of myopia control and preventing long-term effects. Classic Vision Care is the expert provider of eye care, serving the Georgia communities of Marietta, Kennesaw, and East Cobb.