As children spend more time indoors and on screens, myopia (also known as nearsightedness) is becoming increasingly common. Many parents wonder when they should take action to manage their child’s myopia and prevent it from worsening. The key is to start as soon as possible. Keep reading to learn about the best timing for myopia management and why it’s critical to start early.
Why early intervention is important
Myopia usually develops in childhood and worsens until the late teens or early twenties. The earlier it starts, the faster it can progress. Higher degrees of myopia can increase the risk of eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. By starting myopia management early, you can help protect your child’s long-term vision.
The best age to start myopia management
There’s no specific age requirement for myopia management, but the sooner you start, the better! Myopia management specialists typically recommend beginning treatment as soon as it is diagnosed and continuing treatment until myopia stabilizes. Once a child develops nearsightedness, their myopia tends to worsen every few months. Younger children, especially those under 10, experience faster progression, which is why early intervention is key.1,2 At Family Eyecare of Orange, we offer myopia management in Orange, CT, and can help you decide on the best time to start treatment.
Signs your child may need myopia management
If your child experiences any of the symptoms listed below, it’s best to schedule a visit with our pediatric optometrists in Orange, CT to determine if myopia management is necessary:
- Squinting to see distant objects
- Holding books or screens very close to their face
- Complaining of blurry vision, especially at school
- Frequent headaches or eye strain
- Difficulty seeing the board in class
- Poor hand-eye coordination
- Frequent eye rubbing
Brilliant Futures™ Myopia Management Program at Family Eyecare of Orange
At Family Eyecare of Orange, we offer the Brilliant Futures™ Myopia Management Program. As part of the program, your child will receive an annual supply of MiSight® 1 day daily disposable contact lenses and free shipping and returns—even if their prescription changes—along with a full schedule of office visits throughout the year for continuous care and monitoring. Families will also have access to online support tools and a mobile app filled with educational resources and appointment reminders.
If your child has been diagnosed with myopia, give us a call today to learn more about our myopia management options and to schedule an appointment!
References
- Hou W, Norton TT, Hyman L, Gwiazda J; COMET Group. Axial Elongation in Myopic Children and its Association With Myopia Progression in the Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial. Eye Contact Lens. 2018 Jul;44(4):248-259. (link)
- Tricard D, Marillet S, Ingrand P, Bullimore MA, Bourne RRA, Leveziel N. Progression of myopia in children and teenagers: a nationwide longitudinal study. Br J Ophthalmol. 2022 Aug;106(8):1104-1109. (link)