At what age should my child be evaluated for myopia?

According to the American Optometric Association, a child’s first eye exam should be at 6 months old, then at 3 years old, between 5 to 6 years old, and annually thereafter. Our office is well-equipped to treat children and aims to make every visit comfortable and engaging.

How can I tell if my child is developing myopia?

Family history increases a child’s risk of myopia by at least 30 percent. If one or both parents have myopia, it is recommended your child be evaluated. Signs may include squinting, sitting close to screens, difficulty seeing distant objects, eye rubbing, frequent headaches, and blinking more than usual.

How is an eye examination at an eye doctor's office different from the pediatrician?

An eye examination is more comprehensive than a pediatric vision screening. It evaluates visual acuity, binocular vision, ocular health, and risk for amblyopia, also known as lazy eye. Early detection is important because much of learning is visual, and proper eye development supports academic success.

At what age can myopia control methods be started?

Clinical studies show that low-dose atropine has been safely tested in children as young as 4 years old, and specialty contact lenses have been used successfully in children as young as 7 to 8 years old.

Is it safe for children to wear contact lenses?

Yes. Studies show children as young as 7 to 8 years old can successfully wear contact lenses. Long-term research indicates children fit with lenses are no more likely to experience worse eye health or compliance issues than teenagers.

Are myopia control methods effective?

Clinically tested myopia control treatments can slow myopic progression by approximately 50 percent compared to no treatment. While myopia cannot be reversed or completely halted, early intervention is critical for optimal long-term outcomes.

Are there any side effects or risks associated with myopia control treatments?

The risks associated with orthokeratology or MiSight lenses are similar to or lower than those of regular soft contact lenses. Side effects of low-dose atropine, such as light sensitivity or difficulty focusing at near, are uncommon.

Can adults undergo myopia control treatment?

Most myopia control studies focus on patients age 21 and younger. Adults may enroll in treatment programs, but outcomes seen in children cannot be guaranteed. Some adults choose orthokeratology to achieve clear daytime vision without glasses or daytime contact lenses.

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Myopia Control

Myopia Control
in Chino CA

Myopia, often referred to as nearsightedness, is a growing concern, particularly among children. This eye condition, where the eye grows longer than normal, causes distant objects to appear blurry. Myopia is frequently diagnosed in childhood and can progress rapidly due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. These factors include insufficient outdoor activity and excessive time spent on electronic devices.

In the past, there were no treatments to slow the progression of myopia, leaving eye doctors to watch prescriptions increase year after year. While glasses and regular contacts could correct vision, they couldn’t prevent the condition from worsening. Today, however, safe and effective treatments are available to manage myopia, offering hope for better eye health outcomes.

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Eye-Opening Statistics

Myopia Epidemic

In the early 1970s, only 25% of Americans were nearsighted. Today, more than 40% of Americans have myopia, and that number is increasing at an alarming rate, especially among school-aged children.

1 in 4 Parents

have a child with myopia

30% of adolescents

are affected by myopia

50% of the world’s

population will be myopic by 2050

The Dangers of Myopia

Myopia increases the risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma, & retinal detachments.

Myopia will worsen over time, especially if the child is younger or if it is left untreated. The younger the child who is diagnosed with myopia, the faster it gets worse. Research shows specifically that those diagnosed at less than the age of 9 years old are likely to progress faster. While regular glasses and contact lenses can help kids see more clearly, they do not slow down the progression of myopia, which means kids may need increasingly stronger prescriptions as they continue to grow. It was previously thought that only high myopic prescriptions were concerning, but we’ve learned that there is no safe level of myopia. Being myopic increases the risk of developing sight-threatening eye health conditions in the future, and that risk factor exponentially grows beyond -3.00 diopters.

Treatment Options

Early intervention provides the best opportunity to slow myopic progression and protect a child’s vision for decades. Here are four ways to slow myopia in children and teenagers:

Stellest ® Lenses

Stellest® lenses are FDA-authorized prescription glasses that correct nearsightedness and help slow myopia progression in eligible children. For many families, glasses feel simpler, especially for younger kids. Stellest® can be a good fit for children who aren’t ready for contacts or who prefer glasses.Schedule a myopia management consultation at Oasis Optometry in Chino, CA.

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Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology therapy involves custom-made lenses that can improve vision by temporarily shaping the front surface of the child’s eye gently. These contacts are meant to be worn at night during sleep, meaning they will only be wearing them at home. Once removed in the morning, patients are able to enjoy clear vision throughout the day without the need of lenses. This is a great option for our active kids! Orthokeratology is unique in that it can both correct and slow myopia.

MiSight Contact Lenses

CooperVision Misight 1 Day Contact Lenses are FDA-approved contact lenses for controlling myopia progression in children. Its design allows children to see clearly and signals the eye to slow down in its growth. MiSight contact lenses are daily disposable contact lenses, custom fit by an optometrist to provide optimal vision correction. In the FDA trials, children as young as 8 years were able to handle their lenses confidently soon after the initial fitting.

Atropine Drop Therapy

This involves a prescription eye drop that is instilled at night into children’s eyes. Studies have shown that when used with the correct pair of glasses, these drops can help slow the progression of myopia. Patients put one drop in each eye everyday and then wear their glasses like normal. This is a great solution for the young kids who aren’t quite ready to try contacts. One of the benefits of Atropine is that we can always move into contacts once patients feel they are ready for the next step.

Lifestyle & Outdoor Activity

Spending time outdoors, especially during daylight hours, has been linked to a reduced risk of myopia progression. We encourage all our kid patients to aim for at least 2 hours of outdoor time per day. Limiting screen time can allow for increased time outdoors, thereby contributing to reduced risk of myopia progression, and improve physical health and decreased obesity. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends these acceptable amount of screen time limits:

0 – 18 Months

avoid screens

18 – 24 Months

Co-view minimal viewing

2 – 5 Years Old

1 Hour screen time max

6 Years Old+

consistent limits are key

FAQs

According to the American Optometric Association, a child’s first eye exam should be at 6 months old, then at 3 years old, then between 5-6 years old, and then annually after. Our office is well-equipped to treat kids! We aim to make every kid’s experience as comfortable and engaging as possible.

Family history affects a child’s risk of myopia by at least 30%, so if one or both parents have myopia, it is recommended that your child be evaluated by an eye doctor. Some signs that might indicate your child is developing myopia include:

squinting
sitting close to screens
difficulty seeing distant objects
eye rubbing
frequent headaches
blinking more than usual.

An eye examination is more thorough than a vision screening that a child receives at their pediatric exam. An eye exam at an eye doctor’s office tests for visual acuity, binocular vision, ocular health, and risks for developing a lazy eye. Both visual acuity and binocular vision are extremely important in the ability to focus and keep track while reading. This young age is also most at risk for developing amblyopia, or a lazy eye, and is important to treat early once diagnosed to achieve the best outcome. Much of learning is visual, so it is important that children are evaluated before they enter school.

Clinical studies involving low-dose atropine were safely tested in as young as 4 years old, and specialty contact lenses in as young as 7-8 years old.

Yes! Studies have shown that children as young as 7-8 years old can successfully wear contact lenses. One study that followed contact lens wearers for more than a decade found that contact lens wearers fit as children were no more likely to have worse eye health or compliance issues than those fit as teenagers.

Yes, the most compelling, clinically-tested treatments for myopia control, which our office uses, provide around 50% slowing of myopic progression, compared to no treatment at all. In discussion with our local colleagues, this percentage of slowing is even higher. However, despite these clinical breakthroughs, myopia unfortunately cannot be reversed or completely halted. Therefore, it is critical to start treating myopia as soon as it is diagnosed, especially in younger children.

The risks with orthokeratology or Misight are about the same, if not less than, wearing regular soft contact lenses. The side effects of low-dose Atropine, which are light sensitivity or difficulty focusing at near, are uncommon.

Myopia control studies have mainly focused on those of age 21 and less. Adults interested in myopia control can enroll into our treatment program, however, the expectation of achieving the same myopia control outcomes obtained in children cannot be extrapolated to adults. However, we do have adults at our office that undergo orthokeratology to see clearly throughout the day without needing daytime contact lenses or glasses.