Short-sightedness, or myopia, is a common vision problem in children. While they can see clearly up close, distant objects appear blurred. Children with myopia often squint to see the board at school or sit closer to the television to see clearly.
For many families, the big concern is that childhood myopia can worsen year after year, raising questions like: “Will it ever stop?” or “Will my child become so short-sighted that glasses won’t help?” Typically, myopia stabilizes by around age 20, but by then, some children have already developed high myopia, which increases the risk of eye complications later in life.
The good news is that there are effective ways to slow the progression of myopia in children. The three most widely recommended approaches are myopia control lenses, Ortho-K contact lenses, and atropine eye drops.
Myopia control lenses are specially designed glasses that reduce focusing fatigue during close work, such as reading or using digital devices. This added optical support helps slow the progression of short-sightedness in children, protecting their vision over time.
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Ortho-K uses specially designed rigid contact lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea. When removed in the morning, children can enjoy clear, glasses-free vision throughout the day. Studies show that Ortho-K slows eye growth, which can permanently reduce the degree of myopia when started in childhood.
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Atropine eye drops temporarily relax the eye’s focusing mechanism. Research has shown that this can slow myopia progression by reducing focusing fatigue. While effective in the short term, the benefits may diminish if treatment is not ongoing or monitored carefully.