Myopia Control For Kids

Myopia control aims to slow the progression of short-sightedness in children and reduce the risk of developing high myopia later in life. Early assessment can help identify children at higher risk and determine whether myopia control treatment may be appropriate.

Signs of Progressive Myopia

Reading unusually close may be a sign of difficulty seeing clearly.

 

Difficulty Seeing Clearly at a Distance

Your child may have trouble reading the whiteboard in class, recognising objects at a distance or seeing clearly without their glasses.

Changes in Visual Habits

Your child may complain of headaches or eye fatigue, or frequently squint, tilt their head or rub their eyes when looking at objects.

Frequent Changes in Glasses Prescription

An increasing glasses prescription may indicate that your child's myopia is progressing. Regular eye examinations can help monitor changes in prescription over time.

Family History of Myopia

If one parent is myopic, a child has twice the risk of developing myopia compared to his/her peers. If both parents are myopic, this risk goes up to eight times!

Concerned that your child’s myopia is getting worse?
If your child’s prescription is increasing or they are having difficulty seeing clearly at school, book an eye assessment to evaluate their myopia progression and discuss suitable myopia control options.
Book a Myopia Assessment
Severe myopic degeneration can result in serious and permanent visual loss.

Myopia Control Treatment Options for Children

1

Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops

Atropine eye drops are prescribed in different concentrations for myopia control. The appropriate concentration depends on factors such as the child’s age, prescription and risk of progression.
2

Myopia Control Glasses and Contact Lenses

Specially designed spectacle lenses and contact lenses may help slow myopia progression in children. Options include myopia-control spectacle lenses, multifocal or dual-focus contact lenses and orthokeratology lenses. Suitability depends on the child’s age, eye health, prescription and ability to follow the treatment instructions.
3

Outdoor Time

Spending more time outdoors may help reduce the risk of developing myopia in children. Parents can also encourage regular breaks during prolonged near work or screen use to support healthy visual habits.

Atropine eye drops can slow the progression of myopia but do not reverse existing myopia.

Benefits of Atropine Eye Drops

May slow myopia progression

Low-dose atropine eye drops may help slow the progression of myopia in children.

Convenient treatment

Atropine eye drops are typically administered once daily, depending on the prescribed treatment plan.

Generally well tolerated at low doses

Low-dose atropine eye drops are generally well tolerated, although some children may experience side effects such as light sensitivity or difficulty focusing at close distances.

Widely studied

Low-dose atropine has been extensively studied for managing myopia progression in children.

What to Expect During a Myopia Assessment for Your Child

A detailed eye examination is necessary to determine whether your child has true myopia and whether it is progressing, rather than “pseudomyopia”. A risk assessment would then be done based on factors such as the rate of myopia progression, age of the child, family history and environmental exposure. The appropriate concentration of atropine would be chosen based on the risk of progression.

Please read this for more information on what to expect when your child comes for his/her myopia assessment.

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FAQs

Yes, children can continue with most activities, including sports. However, if they are on higher doses of Atropine eye drops, they may  experienced increased sensitivity to light and may need tinted glasses or sunglasses when they spend time in the sun.

Myopia tends to increase significantly between the ages of 5 to 15 years of age, with particularly rapid progression between 6 to 8 years old. If there is a strong family history, it is recommended that you have him screened early as children who develop myopia earlier have a higher risk of becoming highly myopic adults. The earlier these children are treated, the better the final outcome.

Atropine 0.01% eye drops is effective in slowing down myopia progression in about 60% of children. About 20-30% of children may require higher doses (Atropine 0.125% or 1%) to curb progression. In a small percentage (10%) of children, Atropine eye drops may not work.

Your ophthalmologist will decide on an appropriate concentration based on your child’s risk profile. Very often, children start with low dose eyedrops,  and may require a conversion to higher concentrations if myopia continues to progress.

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