Can Childhood Myopia Be Controlled? | EMME Visioncare

Originally published: 1 July 2021
Last reviewed and updated: 30 September 2026

If your child's spectacle prescription seems to become stronger every year, you may be wondering: can childhood myopia actually be corrected or controlled?

The short answer is that these are two different things. Myopia can be corrected with spectacles or contact lenses so that your child can see clearly. Myopia control, on the other hand, aims to slow down how quickly the myopia progresses as your child's eyes continue to grow.

For children whose myopia is increasing, this distinction matters. Rather than simply updating the spectacle prescription every year, we can assess how quickly the myopia is progressing, measure changes in the eye and consider whether a myopia control strategy may be appropriate.

What is childhood myopia?

Myopia, also known as short-sightedness or nearsightedness, causes distant objects to appear blurred while nearer objects are usually clearer.

In many children with myopia, the eye grows longer than expected from front to back. This measurement is known as the axial length of the eye. As axial length increases, light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina rather than directly on it, resulting in blurred distance vision.

Myopia often develops and progresses during the school years while a child's eyes are still growing. Genetics, age, environmental factors, near work and time spent outdoors can all influence a child's risk.

Can myopia in children be corrected?

Yes. The blurred vision caused by myopia can usually be corrected with an appropriate spectacle or contact-lens prescription.

However, correcting vision does not necessarily stop the underlying myopia from progressing.

A child may see perfectly clearly through a pair of spectacles while their prescription and axial length continue to increase over time. If this happens, stronger lenses may be required at subsequent visits.

This is why simply asking, "Can my child see clearly with these glasses?" tells us only part of the story.

Can childhood myopia be reversed?

Existing childhood myopia generally cannot be made to disappear by eye exercises, supplements or simply avoiding spectacles.

There is also an important difference between temporarily changing how the eye focuses and reversing the underlying eye growth associated with myopia.

For example, orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses temporarily reshape the cornea during sleep so that suitable patients can see clearly during the day without spectacles. In children, Ortho-K can also form part of a myopia control strategy. However, it does not permanently shorten an eye that has already grown longer due to myopia.

For children, the practical goal is therefore usually to correct the current blurred vision and reduce the amount of additional myopia that develops during the growing years.

Why does slowing myopia progression matter?

A stronger spectacle prescription is not the only concern when childhood myopia progresses.

Higher levels of myopia are associated with greater lifetime risks of several eye-health problems, including myopic macular degeneration, retinal detachment and glaucoma. These complications do not occur in every person with myopia, but the risks generally rise as myopia becomes more severe.

This means that slowing progression during childhood can have value even when it does not stop progression completely. Research has shown that reducing the final amount of myopia can make a meaningful difference to long-term eye-health risk.

How can parents tell if their child's myopia is progressing?

Sometimes the first clue is simple: your child starts saying that the classroom board is blurry again even though their spectacles are relatively new.

Other possible signs include:

• squinting when looking at distant objects;
• sitting closer to the television or classroom board;
• difficulty recognising people or signs at a distance;
• needing progressively stronger spectacle prescriptions;
• holding objects close because distance vision has become less clear; and
• complaints that previously clear distance vision has become blurry.

However, parents should not rely only on symptoms. Children may adapt to blurred vision and may not realise that their eyesight has changed.

Regular measurement is therefore important, particularly for a child who already has myopia or has previously shown progression.

Why does the age at which myopia starts matter?

Children who develop myopia at a younger age potentially have more growing years ahead of them during which their myopia can progress.

This does not mean that every young child with myopia will eventually develop high myopia, nor is there one age at which every child should automatically begin myopia control.

Instead, the decision should consider factors such as:

• the child's age;
• current prescription;
• how the prescription has changed over time;
• axial-length changes;
• family history of myopia;
• eye health;
• lifestyle and visual demands; and
• which treatment options are appropriate for the individual child.

In general, identifying significant progression earlier gives parents and practitioners more opportunity to manage it during the years when the eye is growing.

How do we measure whether myopia is progressing?

A child's spectacle prescription is useful, but it should not be the only measurement considered when monitoring childhood myopia.

At EMME Visioncare, axial length is measured for every child undergoing a myopia assessment. Depending on the branch, measurements are performed using either the Topcon MYAH or Essilor ARK SW9000 optical biometry system.

Axial length tells us how long the eye is from front to back. Repeated measurements allow us to monitor eye growth over time alongside changes in prescription, age, progression history and other clinical findings.

There is no single axial-length number that can be labelled "normal" or "abnormal" for every child. The measurement needs to be interpreted in context.

You can read more in our guide: What Is Axial Length and Why Does It Matter in Childhood Myopia?

What can be done if a child's myopia is progressing?

There are now several evidence-based approaches that may help slow childhood myopia progression. The most appropriate option depends on the individual child rather than there being one treatment that is best for everyone.

Depending on suitability, options may include:

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)

Ortho-K lenses are specially designed rigid contact lenses worn during sleep. They temporarily reshape the cornea, allowing suitable wearers to see clearly during the day without spectacles while also providing a myopia-control effect in children.

Myopia control soft contact lenses

Specially designed soft contact lenses can provide clear vision while creating an optical treatment effect intended to slow myopia progression. Suitability depends on factors including age, prescription, eye health and the child's ability to handle contact lenses responsibly.

Myopia control spectacle lenses

Modern spectacle-lens designs can provide normal vision correction while using specialised optical designs intended to reduce myopia progression. They can be particularly useful for children who prefer spectacles or are not suitable for contact lenses.

Atropine eye drops

Low-concentration atropine is another established approach to childhood myopia control. Because atropine is a medication, it must be prescribed by an appropriate medical practitioner. Where relevant, EMME Visioncare can work together with an ophthalmologist as part of the child's myopia-management plan.

Each approach has advantages, limitations and suitability considerations. For a fuller explanation of the evidence, read How Effective Are These Myopia Control Treatments?

What about outdoor time, screens and reading?

Healthy visual habits are still important, but they should be understood in the right context.

Research consistently supports spending more time outdoors as an important factor in reducing the likelihood that children develop myopia. Once a child is already myopic, however, outdoor time and screen habits should generally be considered supportive measures rather than replacements for evidence-based myopia control where treatment is indicated.

Practical habits include encouraging regular outdoor activity, taking breaks from prolonged near work and avoiding unnecessarily close viewing distances when reading or using digital devices.

We discuss this in more detail in Screen Time, Outdoor Time and Childhood Myopia: What Parents Should Know.

When should parents consider a myopia assessment?

A myopia assessment may be worth considering if:

• your child has recently been diagnosed with myopia;
• their spectacle prescription keeps becoming stronger;
• myopia developed at a relatively young age;
• one or both parents have significant myopia;
• you have been told that your child's eye length is increasing;
• your child is already using a myopia-control treatment and needs monitoring; or
• you would like to understand whether active myopia control is appropriate.

The purpose of the assessment is not simply to choose a product. It is to understand how your child's eyes are changing, identify their individual risk factors and decide on an appropriate management and monitoring plan.

So, can childhood myopia be controlled?

We cannot promise that childhood myopia will stop progressing completely.

What we can do is measure progression carefully and, where appropriate, use evidence-based strategies designed to slow it.

The earlier question for parents should therefore not only be, "What prescription does my child need now?" It should also be, "How is my child's myopia changing over time, and should we be doing something to slow it?"

If your child's prescription has been increasing or you would like a clearer picture of their myopia progression, learn more about our childhood myopia control assessments in Singapore.

References

1. Flitcroft DI, Bullimore MA, Gifford KL, et al. Myopia Correction, Myopia Control and Myopia Management: Definitions and Recommended Usage. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2025;66(6):41. View reference.
2. Bullimore MA, Saunders KJ, Baraas RC, et al. IMI—Interventions for Controlling Myopia Onset and Progression 2025. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2025;66(12):39. View reference.
3. Gifford KL, Richdale K, Kang P, et al. IMI—Clinical Management Guidelines Report. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2019;60(3):M184-M203. View reference.
4. Bullimore MA, Brennan NA. Myopia Control: Why Each Diopter Matters. Optometry and Vision Science. 2019;96(6):463-465. View reference.
5. Kido A, Miyake M, Watanabe N. Interventions to increase time spent outdoors for preventing incidence and progression of myopia in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2024;6:CD013549. View reference.

This article is intended for general educational purposes and does not replace an individual eye examination or medical advice.