Myopia in children, also known as short-sightedness, causes distant objects to appear blurry while nearby objects usually remain clear. It commonly begins during childhood and may progress as the eyes continue to grow.
A short-sighted child may be able to read a book comfortably but struggle to see the board at school, road signs in the distance or players on a sporting field. Myopia often develops during primary school years and can continue to progress throughout childhood and adolescence as the eyes grow.
There is no single cause of myopia. Instead, it develops through a combination of genetics and environmental factors.
The Role of Genetics
Myopia tends to run in families. If one parent is short-sighted, their child has a higher chance of developing myopia. If both parents are short-sighted, the risk increases even further.
However, genetics alone do not explain the dramatic increase in myopia seen around the world over recent decades. Our genes haven’t changed that quickly, which means lifestyle factors are also playing an important role.
Less Time Outdoors
One of the strongest findings from myopia research is the protective effect of spending time outdoors.Children who spend more time outdoors are less likely to develop myopia. Spending time outdoors has also been shown to support overall eye health in children who are already short-sighted.Researchers believe exposure to natural daylight helps regulate healthy eye growth during childhood. While the exact mechanisms are still being studied, the evidence supporting outdoor time is remarkably consistent.
How Do You Know If Your Child Has Myopia?
One challenge with myopia is that children often don’t realise their vision is blurry. They assume everyone sees the world the same way they do.
Parents frequently tell us they have noticed their child:
If you’ve noticed any of these signs, booking a children’s eye test in St Albans can help identify vision problems early and determine whether myopia management may be beneficial.
Several factors may influence the development of myopia in children, including family history, limited outdoor time and prolonged periods of close visual work.
If you notice any of these signs, it is worth scheduling a comprehensive children’s eye examination.
Even if your child has no obvious symptoms, routine eye checks are important because early detection gives us the best opportunity to manage myopia effectively. Recognising myopia in children early allows parents and optometrists to monitor changes and discuss suitable management options.
At First Choice Vision, we provide children’s eye tests for families throughout St Albans and Melbourne’s western suburbs, helping identify vision changes before they begin impacting learning, sport or everyday life.
One of the most important developments in eye care over the last decade is the emergence of myopia management. Many parents are surprised to learn that simply correcting blurry vision and actively slowing myopia progression are not necessarily the same thing. Managing myopia in children involves more than simply correcting blurry vision with standard glasses.
At First Choice Vision, we offer personalised myopia management in St Albans, helping children access evidence-based treatments designed to slow the progression of short-sightedness and support long-term eye health.
Specially designed myopia control glasses are now available and have been shown to slow myopia progression in many children. These lenses look similar to regular glasses but are designed using specialised optical technology.
Myopia control glasses are one of the most popular treatment options for children because they are non-invasive, easy to adapt to and effective at slowing progression in suitable candidates.
There is no single solution that suits every child.
The most appropriate treatment depends on factors such as age, prescription level, lifestyle, rate of progression and individual eye health.
A comprehensive children's eye examination allows our optometrists to assess your child's vision and recommend the most suitable myopia control treatment. Every child is different, which is why personalised myopia management plans often produce the best outcomes.
Early identification and appropriate management of myopia in children may help slow its progression and support long-term eye health.
For more information about children’s eye health, you may also find these trusted Australian resources helpful:
Your Most Common Questions Answered.
Myopia management refers to treatments designed to slow the progression of short-sightedness in children. Depending on your child’s needs, this may include myopia control glasses, specialised contact lenses, Ortho-K or low-dose atropine eye drops.
If you’re looking for a children’s optometrist in St Albans, First Choice Vision provides comprehensive children’s eye examinations and personalised myopia management plans for families throughout Melbourne’s western suburbs.