At What Age Can You Start Myopia Treatment for Your Child?

Myopia is a vision condition or refractive error that affects the individual’s ability to see clearly. Objects and images at a distance are not clear, making it difficult for the individual to perform certain activities. 

Millions of people suffer from myopia or nearsightedness, and it affects both children and adults. The condition often onsets in childhood. Find out when you can start myopia treatment for your child.

Signs of Myopia

Several signs can indicate that your child has myopia. They include:
 

• Squinting when watching TV.
   

• Inability to see the classroom board.
   

• Holding reading materials close to the face. 
   

• Lack of interest in games or sports that require clear distant vision. 
   

• Diminished clarity of vision when compared with other people. 

If your child is exhibiting any of the signs, it is vital to schedule an eye examination. The doctor can determine if the child is experiencing a refractive error. 

Causes of Myopia

Myopia results from light entering the eye and focusing in front rather than on the retina. When the eye is longer than normal, the shape causes light to be refracted incorrectly. Myopia usually develops in childhood and becomes worse as the child grows. 

As eyes grow, the length also grows, and so the child’s prescription worsens during the teen years. The vision will usually reach a plateau around age 20 when the eye has stopped growing. 

Controlling Myopia Progression

You can prevent your child’s myopia from becoming worse. Recent studies have shown that it is possible to slow down myopia progression before it becomes worse. Myopia can increase a child’s risk of developing vision-threatening diseases in later years. 

Myopia control treatment can protect your child from developing eye diseases that are associated with myopia. Myopia management treatment can involve the use of special lenses or atropine eye drops.

Myopia Treatment Techniques

Eye doctors will prescribe myopia treatment depending on the child’s age and the severity of the condition. Treatment can involve the use of eyeglasses, contact lenses, atropine eye drops, and orthokeratology. 

In some cases, corrective lenses that contain different prescriptions can work. Orthokeratology can help reduce myopia progression by 50 percent. This form of treatment involves the use of special contact lenses. 

When to Start Myopia Treatment

It is never too early to start myopia treatment for your child. Ideally, treatment should begin the moment the diagnosis comes out. Myopia will generally worsen when the child reaches the teen years. To experience optimal results, your child should have treatment in early childhood. 

However, this will depend on the child’s current condition and risk factors. If your child’s myopia worsens each year, talk to the doctor about myopia management. The doctor will help determine the best myopia treatment for your child depending on the child’s age and vision prescription.

High myopia is associated with conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration. A regular eye examination can help you protect your child’s eye health. The eye doctor can suggest a myopia management treatment that will benefit your child.

For more on myopia treatment for children, visit Ocean Park Optometry at our office in ​​​​​​Santa Monica, California. You can call (310) 452-1039 today to schedule an appointment.