Is your child squinting to see things far away, holding books or screens too close to their face, or complaining about blurry vision? These could be early signs of myopia—or nearsightedness—a condition that’s becoming increasingly common in children. Myopia typically worsens with age, especially during childhood and teenage years when the eyes are still developing. At Contact Lens & EyeCare Gallery, we offer myopia management in Frisco to slow down its progression and protect your child’s eye health and vision.
But when is the best time to start myopia management? Let’s talk about why starting early is key.
Start early for the best results
The earlier you start myopia management, the better. Myopia usually begins in childhood and can progress rapidly as your child grows. If left unmanaged, it can lead to stronger prescriptions and increase the risk of serious eye problems later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.
Ideally, myopia management should begin as soon as your child is diagnosed with nearsightedness. Early intervention can slow down the progression and protect your child’s vision for the long term.
What’s the right age to start?
Kids as young as six or seven can benefit from myopia management. This is often when myopia progresses the fastest, as children’s eyes are growing rapidly. Even if your child’s prescription isn’t strong, early management can make a huge difference, especially if you have a family history of myopia.
At Contact Lens & EyeCare Gallery, we offer several safe and effective options for myopia control:
- Ortho-k (orthokeratology): These special lenses are worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea, allowing for clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or daytime contacts. Ortho-k also helps slow down the progression of myopia over time.
- Atropine eye drops: Low-dose atropine eye drops are applied at bedtime and help slow down eye growth, which is the cause of worsening myopia. They’re a safe, easy option for kids.
- Multifocal contact lenses: These lenses help your child see clearly at all distances while also reducing the rate of myopia progression. They’re perfect for kids who are comfortable wearing contacts.
Don’t wait for myopia to get worse! Early action is key, so give us a call today to schedule an appointment and learn more about how we can help keep your child’s vision clear and healthy.