Understanding Myopia and How to Protect Your Child’s Vision and Eye Health

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is on the rise faster than kids can misplace their homework. With more screen time and less time outdoors, children are developing myopia earlier than ever. But don’t panic! Understanding myopia and how to manage it is essential for preserving your child's vision. Proper management can help slow its progression, maintain visual clarity, and reduce the risk of future eye diseases.

Myopia is when far-away things look blurry, but up-close objects remain clear, “nearsighted”. This occurs when the eyeball grows too long, and often too quickly and at an early age. If left unchecked, myopia can progress faster than a toddler running away with Play-Doh in their mouth. This increases the risk of serious eye conditions like retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts. The higher the prescription the higher the risk of these complications, making early management crucial for long-term eye health.

Don’t worry, there’s good news! Myopia management has come a long way. Here are some tried-and-true ways to slow its progression:

1. Specialized Contact Lenses – Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) contact lenses help slow myopia by reshaping the eye while you sleep. (Think of them as braces or a retainer for your eyes).

2. MiSight® 1 Day Contact Lenses – These daily disposable soft contact lenses are FDA-approved to help slow myopia progression in children. They help correct vision like normal contacts but have the added benefit of slowing down nearsightedness. Plus, they’re a great option for active kids whose glasses are getting in the way or constantly getting broke.

3. Prescription Eye Drops – These specially formulated drops have been shown to slow myopia progression in children.

4. Outdoor Time – Turns out, fresh air isn’t just great for exercise—it’s also good for your kid’s eyesight! Studies show that spending at least two hours a day outside can slow myopia progression.

5. Screen Time Management – We all love a good binge-watch, but staring at screens for hours on end isn’t doing young eyes any favors.
 

The sooner myopia is detected and managed, the better the long-term outlook (literally and figuratively). Since high myopia increases the likelihood of severe eye conditions later down the road, taking steps now can help prevent future complications to the ones you care about most in life. Regular comprehensive eye exams can catch myopia early and help set up a game plan before it gets out of hand.

At Paramount Eye Care & Eyewear we specialize in myopia management and are dedicated to helping kids in our community see the world clearly—and without squinting. If your child is constantly moving closer to the TV, or having difficulty seeing things from far away, it might be time for an eye exam. We offer personalized myopia control solutions, unique to each individual child. 

Protecting your child’s vision starts now—so let’s team up to keep their world looking bright, clear, and full of adventure!