Understanding myopia management

Slowing your child's nearsightedness.

Nearsightedness (myopia) is on the rise worldwide. The big shift in eye care: we don't just prescribe stronger glasses — we actively slow the eye's growth with proven treatments.

What's happening

Why we now treat, not just correct.

When a child's eye grows too long, distant objects blur. Standard glasses fix the blur — but they don't stop the eye from continuing to grow longer.

High myopia (worse than -6.00) carries lifelong increased risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular disease. Slowing progression in childhood means a safer eye for life.

What helps

Here's the plan —
and why it works.

Contacts

MiSight 1-day

FDA-approved daily contact lenses that slow progression by ~30–50%. Ages 8+.

Drops

Low-dose atropine

A tiny nightly drop reduces progression. Minimal side effects at modern low doses.

Overnight

Ortho-K

Custom overnight lenses reshape the cornea. Reduces progression AND gives glasses-free days.

Foundation

Outdoor time

2+ hours daily. Simple, free, powerfully effective at slowing myopia onset and progression.

Regular check-ins matter

Even with treatment, kids need exams every 6 months to track progression. Faster-than-expected changes can signal the need for a treatment adjustment — we catch it early when we see them often.

Common questions

Honest answers to common questions.

Why not just wait and see?+

Because every year of unchecked progression adds lifelong eye disease risk. Children who end adolescence at -3.00 D have a very different risk profile than those at -8.00 D — forever.

What are the treatment options?+

Three evidence-backed options: MiSight daily contact lenses, low-dose atropine eye drops, or Ortho-K overnight lenses. Each reduces progression ~30–50%. We'll pick based on your child's age, lifestyle, and prescription.

How much outdoor time actually helps?+

A lot. 2+ hours of outdoor time daily meaningfully reduces myopia onset and progression. Bright natural light + looking at distance seems to be what matters. It's free and it works.

Does limiting screens help?+

Probably yes. Near work — including screens — is associated with myopia progression. Frequent breaks (20-20-20 rule) and outdoor time are the practical countermeasures.

When do we stop treatment?+

Typically around age 16–18 when eye growth naturally plateaus. We confirm stability for a year before stopping, then continue annual exams.