Myopia is more than just needing glasses – it’s a physical change in your child’s eye that requires specialised care
What Causes Myopia and How Does it Affect Your Child?
Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is a disease where close objects appear clear, but distant objects are blurry. It occurs when the eyeball grows too long. Instead of focusing precisely on the retina, light focuses in front of it. In children, this often leads to progressive myopia, where the eye continues to stretch and vision worsens each year.
The Parents' Checklist: Common Myopia Symptoms to Watch for
Is it a habit, or is it myopia? If you notice these symptoms it may be time for a specialised assessment
The Physical Red Flags for Myopia
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Squinting at the TV: Is your child leaning forward or narrowing their eyes to see the screen?
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The Close-Up Habit: Are they holding books, tablets or phones unusually close to their face?
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Frequent Eye Rubbing: Often mistaken for allergies, this is frequently a sign of significant eye strain.
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Excessive Blinking: An unconscious attempt to clear up blurry distance vision
Behavioural & School Signs
- “I Can’t See the Board”: This is the classic sign that a child’s vision is failing
- Losing Interest in Sports: If your child is suddenly “clumsy” or missing the ball in baseball or soccer, they may simply be unable to track it.
- Short Homework Attention Span: OMyopia causes rapid visual fatigue, making kids give up on tasks that require focus.
- Headaches & Tired Eyes: Does your child complain of tension headaches or “heavy eyes” after a day at school?
Advanced Myopia Treatment Options
Specialised Myopia Glasses
Advanced lens technology designed for more than just clarity
Eyewear Designed for Myopia
Soft Daily Contact Lenses
Daily wear lenses proven to slow the elongation of your child’s eye.
More On Soft Contacts
Ortho-K Overnight Lenses
Like “braces for the eyes” – worn while sleeping so no glasses are needed during the day
More On Ortho-K
Prescription Eye Drops
A simple nightly drop that can slow myopia progression.
Atropine Drops
Repeated Low Level Red Light
Low level red light therapy effectively slows myopia progression
RLRL for Myopia
Some Common Myopia Questions – FAQs
What causes myopia?
A combination of genetics (if parents are myopic) and lifestyle factors, such as increased “near work” on digital devices and less time spent outdoors. Evidence based guidelines now recommend a minimum of 2 hours of daily outdoor time to help prevent or delay the onset of myopia
How to fix shortsightedness?
While traditional glasses “fix” the blur, they don’t fix the growth of the eye. Myopia treatment at Eyes & vision focuses on slowing that growth to protect long-term health.
Is myopia genetic?
Yes.
A child’s risk increases 2x if one parent is myopic and up to 5x if both parents are myopic.
How much does it cost?
During your first consultation, we provide a clear breakdown of the cost.
Because every child’s eye is unique, costs vary on the treatment plan. Parents invest in treatment to stop their child’s vision from worsening now, and protect their eye health long-term.
Protecting Your Child's Future
As the largest group of myopia management practices in Adelaide, Eyes & Vision have expertise, advanced equipment, and training that most general optometrists do not. Our optometrists and staff welcome paediatric patients in their practice and provide a welcoming environment for families.
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