Nearsightedness (myopia) usually gets worse as children grow. With the right treatment, we can slow it down and protect your child's long-term eye health, not just sharpen their vision.
Myopia happens when the eye grows too long, so distant objects look blurry. In children, that growth often continues year after year, and a stronger prescription every year is a sign it's progressing.
Higher myopia increases the lifetime risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic macular degeneration. Myopia management is about slowing that growth while your child's eyes are still developing.
Signs to watch for: squinting at the board or TV, sitting very close to screens, headaches, or frequent eye rubbing.
Dr. Bessie Campouris tailors a plan to your child's age, prescription and daily routine.
Eyeglass lenses with a clear center zone for sharp vision, surrounded by rings of tiny lenslets that signal the eye to slow its growth. A practical, no-maintenance option for younger children.
The first FDA-approved soft contact lens for slowing myopia in children ages 8 to 12 at the start of treatment. A fresh pair every day, simple for kids to handle.
One drop at bedtime. The concentration is far lower than the drops used to dilate eyes during an exam, and it can be combined with special glasses or contacts.
Daytime contact lenses with zones that correct distance vision while sending focused light to the edges of the retina.
Regular breaks from close-up work, good lighting, and time outdoors each day, with sunglasses and a hat in the Arizona sun.
Regular follow-up visits to measure progress and adjust treatment as your child grows.
Myopia management uses specially designed glasses, contact lenses or eye drops to slow how quickly a child's nearsightedness gets worse. Ordinary glasses correct blurry vision but don't slow the eye's growth.
As soon as nearsightedness is found. Treatment works best when it starts early in childhood, while the eye is still growing quickly. MiSight 1 day lenses are FDA-approved for children who are 8 to 12 years old when they start treatment.
It depends on your child's age, prescription, lifestyle and comfort with contact lenses. Stellest glasses are a simple starting point for younger kids, MiSight suits children ready for contacts, and low-dose atropine can be used alone or combined with either. Dr. Campouris will recommend a plan after a full exam.
Higher levels of myopia raise the lifetime risk of serious eye conditions, including retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic macular degeneration. Slowing progression in childhood helps lower those risks later in life.
Research suggests that time spent outdoors may help delay the onset of myopia in children. It's a healthy habit, ideally paired with sunglasses and a hat in the Arizona sun.
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