Reviewed by Jonathan Miu, B Optom / B Sci, Kellyville Optical
Myopia (short-sightedness) is when distant objects look blurry but close objects are clear. It usually starts in childhood and often gets worse as children grow. Glasses or contact lenses correct the blur. Myopia control treatments, such as Ortho-K overnight lenses and special spectacle lenses, are designed to slow how quickly it progresses.
Myopia is becoming more common in children worldwide. This guide explains the signs to look for, what raises a child's risk, and the options our optometrists may discuss with you in Kellyville.
Myopia at a glance
- What it is: short-sightedness. Far-away things look blurry because the eye focuses light in front of the retina instead of on it.
- Why it matters in children: myopia usually starts at school age and tends to increase until the late teens. The earlier it starts, the higher it’s likely to go.
- Common signs: squinting at the board or TV, sitting very close to screens, holding books close, headaches, or mentioning blurry distance vision.
- Biggest risk factors: one or both parents with myopia, lots of close-up work and screen time, and little time outdoors.
- Correction vs control: standard glasses and contact lenses correct the blur. Myopia control options are designed to slow progression.
- Myopia control options: Ortho-K overnight lenses, myopia control spectacle lenses (such as MiyoSmart), myopia control soft contact lenses, low-dose atropine eye drops, and more time outdoors.
- When to check: before starting school, then as your optometrist recommends. Children already on myopia control are usually reviewed about every 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
Myopia, or short-sightedness, is a common eye condition where distant objects look blurry while close objects stay clear. It happens when the eye grows slightly too long, or focuses too strongly, so light lands in front of the retina. It’s corrected with glasses or contact lenses marked with a minus (−) prescription.
Myopia often occurs alongside astigmatism, which blurs vision at all distances.
Myopia often runs in families. A child with one short-sighted parent has a higher chance of developing it, and the risk is higher again when both parents are short-sighted. Lifestyle also plays a big part. Lots of close-up work and little time outdoors can raise a child’s risk, whatever their family history.
Myopia can’t currently be cured or reversed in children, but its progression can often be slowed. Glasses and contact lenses correct the blur. Myopia control treatments are designed to slow how fast the eye grows longer, which may help keep a child’s final prescription lower.
Higher myopia means thicker lenses and more reliance on glasses. It’s also linked to a greater lifetime risk of eye conditions such as retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic macular degeneration. That’s why optometrists now focus on slowing myopia in childhood, not just correcting it.
Sudden new floaters or flashes can be an early warning sign, so it helps to know what to look out for.
Ortho-K (orthokeratology) uses specially designed rigid contact lenses that are worn overnight to gently reshape the front of the eye. Your child removes them in the morning and can usually see clearly during the day without glasses. Ortho-K is also used as a myopia control option in children.
Myopia control glasses look like normal glasses but use special lens designs, such as Hoya MiyoSmart. They give clear vision while also changing how light focuses on the edges of the retina, which is designed to slow eye growth. They’re an option for children who aren’t ready for contact lenses.
Yes, time outdoors in bright daylight has been shown to reduce the chance of children developing myopia. Optometry Australia suggests about 90 to 120 minutes of outdoor light a day. It’s less clear whether outdoor time slows myopia once it has started, so it works best alongside other options.
Long periods of close-up focus, on screens or books, are linked to a higher risk of myopia, especially when combined with little time outdoors. Regular breaks help: every 20 minutes, look at something far away for 20 seconds. Keep screens and books at a comfortable distance, not too close to the face.
A full eye test before starting school is a good idea, even if your child hasn’t complained about their vision. Children often don’t realise their vision is blurry. Medicare covers a comprehensive eye test with an optometrist, and children with myopia or a family history may need more frequent checks.
How common is myopia in children?
Myopia is becoming much more common. Optometry Australia expects it to affect about half the world’s population, and around 20 million Australians, by 2050 (Optometry Australia position statement, 2024). Researchers link the rise mainly to lifestyle: children spend more time on close-up tasks and less time outdoors than previous generations.
What are the signs of myopia in children?
The most common signs of myopia in children are squinting to see things far away, sitting close to the TV, and holding books or devices very close. Many children don’t say anything, because they assume everyone sees the way they do. Watch for:
- Squinting or frowning to see the board, TV or road signs
- Sitting very close to the TV or holding a tablet close to their face
- Headaches or tired eyes after school
- Rubbing their eyes often
- Losing interest in sport or activities that need distance vision
- A teacher mentioning trouble seeing the board
What causes myopia?
Myopia usually develops because the eyeball grows too long from front to back. Light then focuses in front of the retina instead of on it. Several things raise a child’s risk:
- Family history: the risk is higher if one parent is short-sighted, and higher again if both are.
- Close-up work: long stretches of reading, homework, gaming or screen use without breaks.
- Little time outdoors: bright daylight appears to help protect against myopia developing.
- Early onset: children who become short-sighted at a younger age tend to reach a higher prescription.
Myopia typically increases fastest during primary school years and often settles in the late teens or early twenties.
What are the myopia control options for children?
The main myopia control options for children are Ortho-K overnight lenses, myopia control spectacle lenses, myopia control soft contact lenses and low-dose atropine eye drops. Time outdoors helps alongside these. No single option suits every child. Our optometrist will consider your child’s age, prescription, lifestyle and how comfortable they are with contact lenses.
Ortho-K (orthokeratology) uses custom rigid lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the front of the eye. Your child takes them out in the morning and usually sees clearly all day without glasses. That makes it popular with children who play sport or swim. Ortho-K is often compared to braces for the eyes.
Myopia control spectacle lenses, such as Hoya MiyoSmart and the newer MiyoSmart iQ, look like regular glasses. They give clear central vision, while a special treatment zone changes how light focuses around the edge of the retina, which is designed to slow eye growth. They’re a simple starting point for younger children.
Myopia control soft contact lenses are daily contact lenses with a special design that corrects vision and is designed to slow myopia. They can suit active children who are ready to handle contact lenses.
Low-dose atropine eye drops are prescription drops used once a day, usually at bedtime, to help slow myopia progression. They are often used on their own or combined with lenses.
Time outdoors in daylight is a free, simple habit that can help lower the chance of myopia starting, alongside any treatment.
What happens at a myopia management appointment?
At a myopia management appointment, our optometrist checks your child’s vision and prescription and looks at the health of their eyes. They’ll also ask about family history and daily habits. If myopia control is right for your child, they’ll talk you through the options, costs and follow-up schedule. Children on myopia control are usually reviewed about every 6 months to check it’s working.
