I Also Myopic Last Time, Grew Up OK? Myopia Control for Kids

阅读中文版 →

By Shawn Au, Optometrist

"I also myopic last time ma. Still grew up OK what?"

I hear this almost every week in the consult room, usually from a parent sitting next to a child who has just been told they need glasses. It's a fair question. Many of us grew up with glasses and turned out fine. So let me answer it honestly, along with the questions that usually come right after.

"I turned out fine, so my child will too, right?"

You did turn out fine, and that's good news. But your kid's time isn't the same as yours.

• Many of us became short-sighted in upper primary or secondary school. Today, many children start younger.
• We spent more time playing outdoors. Children today spend more time indoors, on screens, homework and tuition.
• Myopia usually keeps going up until the late teens. Starting younger means more years for it to climb, so a child can end up with a higher prescription than their parents.

So the real question isn't whether you turned out OK. It's where your child's myopia is heading.

"Isn't myopia just about wearing glasses?"

Not quite. Myopia usually happens because the eyeball grows too long. Glasses fix the blur, but they don't change the length of the eye.

A longer eyeball has a higher chance of eye problems later in life, such as retinal detachment and glaucoma. The higher the myopia, the higher the chance. This isn't meant to scare you; most people with myopia never have these problems. But it's why keeping the number lower is worth the effort.

"My child sees clearly with glasses. Why do more?"

Ordinary glasses help your child see clearly, but they don't slow myopia down. Myopia control is different: it aims to slow how fast the prescription goes up. Options include:

• Myopia control spectacle lenses
• Myopia control contact lenses
• Ortho-K (lenses worn overnight, for clear vision in the day without glasses)

To be honest about expectations: it isn't a cure, and your child will most likely still need glasses or lenses. The goal is a lower prescription when they grow up. How well it works differs from child to child, which is why we check progress regularly. And if your child doesn't need it, we'll tell you.

"So what should I do now?"

Four simple things to start with:

1. About 2 hours outdoors a day. Daylight and looking far are good for young eyes.
2. Regular breaks from screens and homework. Look far away for a short while.
3. A yearly eye check, even if your child says they can see fine. Children rarely complain.
4. A children's myopia assessment. We'll measure your child's eyes, explain where they stand, and only recommend what they actually need.

You grew up OK. With a little help, your child can too, with a lower prescription and healthier eyes for the long run.

Book a children's myopia assessment

Shawn Au, Optometrist, EMME Visioncare