What to know about managing your child’s myopia

Learn what myopia is, why it gets worse, and options your child’s eye doctor may recommend for managing it early in life.

Medically reviewed on October 27, 2025

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Published on February 17, 2026

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5 minute read

Myopia is more than just nearsightedness

As your child grows, their eyes grow with them, and that’s a normal part of childhood development. But when they develop myopia, their eyes may grow too quickly or become too long, which can impact their vision and lead to the most well-known symptom of myopia: nearsightedness. The earlier myopia starts, the more time it has to get worse during their growing years. This is what eye doctors call myopia progression, and it’s something they work hard to manage. Unchecked, it can progress into high myopia, and the more severe the myopia, the higher the risk of serious eye problems later in life, like cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.

More about myopia

Childhood myopia is a growing problem

~1 in 3 children

in the U.S. are affected by myopia

Doubled

the number of people with myopia over the past 20 years

50% of the planet

predicted to have myopia by 2050

67% higher risk of myopic macular degeneration

for every diopter increase in myopia

Correcting myopia vs managing myopia—what’s the difference?

Many parents—especially those that grew up with myopia—think wearing eyeglasses fixes the problem of myopia. But it’s important to understand that correcting nearsightedness and managing myopia are two different things.

Correcting nearsightedness

Blurry distance vision happens because the eye grows too long. Glasses or contact lenses correct this symptom, giving your child clear vision for now. But their eyes will keep growing, and their myopia will likely get worse. That means stronger prescriptions year after year, and this approach does nothing to reduce the risk of serious eye problems later in life.

Managing myopia

Myopia management (sometimes referred to as “myopia control”) doesn’t cure existing myopia, but it helps slow down its progression. The goal is to help keep your child’s prescription as low as possible and reduce the chances of future eye health issues.

Why start myopia management early

Starting myopia management at a young age is important because the eye grows more rapidly in younger children and, not managed, will likely progress to a higher prescription overall. It’s important to note that there is no “safe” level of myopia—every diopter (for example, a change in prescription from -2D to -3D) increase in myopia raises the risk of myopic macular degeneration, a sight threatening eye disease, by 67%. For these reasons, it’s recommended that children should be monitored for myopia early on, with annual comprehensive eye exams starting by the age of 5.

Understanding high myopia

Approaches to myopia management

There are several clinically studied options for slowing down myopia progression in children. Each has its benefits, and what your child’s eye doctor recommends depends on your child's age, prescription, lifestyle, and eye health. Here are some of the main approaches:

Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology (ortho-k) is an approach where a child wears a hard contact lens overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea. This can provide clear vision without glasses or contacts during the day and also may help slow the progression of myopia.

Glasses for myopia management

These work by changing how light enters the eye. One approach for this is called peripheral light defocus, where the glasses have tiny lenslets around the central lens to help keep peripheral light from focusing in the eye.

Myopia management soft contact lenses

Similar to glasses for myopia management, these also work to change how light enters the eye, redirecting peripheral light.

Time outside

Research shows that spending at least two hours per day outdoors may help reduce myopia onset or slow its progression.

Less “near work”

Reducing the amount of time spent on near work (like time on tablets) outside of school can help reduce myopia onset.

The 20-20-20 rule

Remind your child to take breaks. Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds when doing near-work activities like reading or homework.⁶

Eye drops

Low-dose atropine has been shown to slow the progression of myopia in children and teens.^†

^{† Low-dose atropine is currently not approved by any regulatory body for myopia control. Atropine’s use is considered off-label and is subject to local regulatory, legal and professional requirements that the ECP must understand and comply with to cover all aspects of off-label prescribing in their country.}

How common is childhood myopia?

Myopia is becoming more common worldwide, especially among kids and teenagers. In the United States, about 1 in 3 children have myopia, but in some countries in Asia, the numbers are much higher—above 80% of young adults. Globally, the number of people with myopia has nearly doubled over the past 20 years. This increase concerns many eye care experts, and they believe lifestyle plays a role. Kids who spend more time indoors doing close-up work, like reading or using screens, may be more likely to develop myopia.

Is myopia genetic or environmental?

Myopia is caused by a combination of genetic factors and environmental influences. You may be more likely to develop myopia if one or more parents have it, but the amount of close-up work or outdoor activity may also affect whether a child develops myopia and how quickly it gets worse. That’s why managing environmental factors like screen time and time outdoors, and starting treatment early is so important to slowing progression and potential complications later in life.

Talk to your child’s eye doctor about myopia management

Early detection and management of myopia can make a big difference in your child's future eye health. Talk to your eye care professional about the best options for myopia management tailored to your child's needs.

Find an eye doctor

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Can myopia be reversed?

No, myopia cannot be reversed once the eye has grown too long. Treatments like glasses, contact lenses, ortho-k, and eye drops help slow down its worsening, but they don’t cure it.

Is there a treatment that can stop myopia from getting worse?

Yes! Prescribed treatments like special contact lenses and certain glasses have been shown to effectively slow myopia progression in children.

Do eye exercises help my child's myopia?

No, eye exercises do not slow or reverse myopia. They can help with some eye muscle issues, but they don’t affect the growth of the eye or how myopia gets worse.

Are contact lenses safe for children?

When used correctly and under the supervision of an eye doctor, contact lenses can be safe for children . They can be a good choice for active kids or those who don’t like wearing glasses.

How important is outdoor time?

Very important! Spending more time outside can delay the start of myopia and help slow its worsening.

Can digital screens cause myopia?

Excessive screen time can cause eye strain, and some recent studies suggest it may also increase the risk of developing myopia, especially if children spend less time outdoors.

When should I see an eye doctor about my child's vision?

It’s recommended to have your child’s eyes checked throughout their childhood, with comprehensive eye exams starting no later than age 5.

Development milestones and checkups