A child with myopia (aka nearsightedness) has to confront a number of challenges, from squinting at the whiteboard to enduring headaches and eye strain. Fortunately, prescription eyewear can help. But according to The Vision Therapy Center’s Shelley Kim, OD, FOVDR, that’s not necessarily enough. 
“Myopia is more than just an inconvenience that can be managed with glasses. If it’s not controlled, it can progress and cause serious long-term vision problems,” she says.

With Dr. Kim’s help, we’ll explain the importance of controlling myopia and share next steps to take if you’re the parent of a nearsighted child.

Why is it so Important to Control Myopia?

If your child is diagnosed with myopia, it typically means he or she can see objects up close but struggles to see objects in the distance. Although this may be a relatively common vision problem, parents may not realize the implications of severe myopia.

In fact, controlling myopia in childhood is critical because this is when the condition can worsen quickly. For example, without myopia control, some children’s prescriptions can reach extreme levels, like -8.00, -10.00, even over -12.00.

“Such strong prescriptions indicate that the eyes may be growing too long and thin,” Dr. Kim says. “This can make them more prone to serious conditions like retinal detachment.”

In addition, highly myopic children are also at greater risk for other eye-related problems later in life such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.

What is Myopia Control? 

Myopia control, or myopia management, involves treatment strategies designed to slow or stop the progression of myopia in children. These may include wearing special glasses or contact lenses, as well as using low dose atropine eye drops. 

Recent research like this three-year clinical trial has shown that multifocal contact lenses, in particular, can be highly effective at controlling myopia. These are unique in that they contain multiple prescriptions within a single lens. 

Today, MiSight is the only FDA-approved brand of multifocal lenses intended specifically for myopia control. Dr. Kim explains that these contact lenses provide the full correction where it is needed, and create myopic defocus in the periphery to slow down the elongation of the eye and myopic progression.

“These lenses aren’t just correcting vision—they’re part of an active treatment plan that can prevent myopia from getting worse,” she says. “In the process, they can reduce the risk of long-term myopia-related problems.”

The Myopia Control Process

If you have concerns about your child’s myopia, The Vision Therapy Center strongly suggests making an appointment with us (or a qualified optometrist in your area). The following is a basic rundown of what you and your child can expect at The Vision Therapy Center. 

Note that The Vision Therapy Center offers a unique combination of services: We not only have the ability to provide multifocal contact lenses for myopia control but can also diagnose and treat the possible underlying conditions contributing to the myopia thanks to our optometric vision therapy services. 

1. A Functional Vision Exam. Our first step is to conduct a Functional Vision Exam to determine the extent of your child’s myopia and whether additional vision problems are contributing to the condition. 

2. Vision therapy. In some but not all cases, we may recommend vision therapy alongside the use of multifocal lenses. Vision therapy can help train the eyes to work together more effectively and to focus more easily between near and far objects.

3. Contact lenses fitting. If your child’s exam indicates that he or she is a good candidate for multifocal lenses, we’ll determine the prescription and help you and your child understand how to insert and remove the lenses. (Remember, these special lenses have the dual purpose of correcting myopia and preventing it from worsening.) 

4. Monitoring. Regular follow-up visits are crucial to track the progression of myopia and adjust the treatment as needed. “The goal is to prevent your child’s prescription from getting worse. We want to keep it below a level where the risks of long-term damage become significant,” says Dr. Kim.

What Should You Do Next?

If your child has received a myopia diagnosis, now is the time to act. Myopia control is about more than just clearer vision today; it’s about protecting your child’s long-term eye health.

“It’s not inevitable that your child’s myopia will worsen over time,” says Dr. Kim. “You can actually take action to prevent that from happening.”

For more information, be sure to consult a developmental optometrist. To set up an appointment with The Vision Therapy Center or to find a qualified optometrist in your area, head to our contact page.