How to prevent and treat childhood myopia to safeguard eye health
With childhood nearsightedness on the rise, White Rock Optometry’s Dr. Natasha Grewal explains how parents can help slow its progression
Nearsightedness, or myopia, is one of the fastest-growing vision concerns in children worldwide. By 2050, half of the global population is expected to be myopic. While glasses and contact lenses can correct blurry vision, Dr. Natasha Grewal of White Rock Optometry says families should be paying closer attention to myopia control – treatments designed to slow the condition’s progression and protect long-term eye health.
“Myopia isn’t just about needing stronger glasses,” Dr. Grewal explains. “High levels of nearsightedness significantly increase the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, such as glaucoma, cataracts, myopic macular degeneration and retinal detachment.”
Understanding myopia
Myopia occurs when the eye elongates more than normal, causing distant objects to appear blurry while close-up vision remains clear, Dr. Grewal explains. Because children’s eyes are still developing, they are especially vulnerable.
How myopia control works
Traditional treatment corrects vision but does not stop the underlying issue – the eye’s excessive growth. Dr. Grewal says myopia control takes a different approach:
- Specialized eyeglass lenses that alter how light enters the eye, proven to slow progression by 50 to 60 per cent in children.
- Specialty contact lenses that reshape or redirect focus to influence eye growth.
- Prescription eye drops that reduce the speed of elongation.
“These treatments can be used on their own or in combination, depending on the child,” Dr. Grewal says.
The importance of early detection
Myopia control is only effective during childhood, typically until the ages of 16 to 18 when eye growth stabilizes, making early detection essential.
“Our office uses an instrument that measures the axial length of the eye,” she explains. “This allows us to track how the eye is growing and whether treatments are working. Children receiving myopia control are generally monitored every six months. Dr. Grewal recommends that parents bring their children for eye exams as early as age one, and no later than five, to ensure early intervention.
Lifestyle habits that help
Parents can also support their child’s vision at home. “Spending at least two hours outdoors every day can actually prevent the onset of myopia, especially in children under eight,” Dr. Grewal says. She adds that screen time should be managed using the “20-20 rule”: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look into the distance.
With nearly half the world projected to be myopic within a generation, Dr. Grewal believes education and proactive care are crucial. “We want children to not only see better today but also to lower their risk of vision-threatening diseases as adults,” she says.
For more information on protecting your vision or to book an appointment, visit whiterockoptometry.com or call 604-536-4999.
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