Key Takeaways
- Myopia control glasses sharpen blurry distance vision and help slow how fast nearsightedness grows in kids.
- These glasses use tiny lenslets to send a slow-down signal to growing eyes.
- The earlier you start myopia control, the more you can protect your child’s vision.
- Regular outdoor time and yearly eye exams support healthy eyes.
Myopia Can Be Managed
Your child squints when watching TV and struggles to see the front of their classroom clearly. On top of that, every eye exam seems to result in a stronger glasses prescription. You wonder if there’s anything you can do.
If your child is struggling with myopia, our team at Impressive Eyes Optical can help you find answers during a children’s eye exam. In many cases, we recommend myopia control glasses, which are designed to correct distance vision while slowing down the rate at which myopia progresses. They look like everyday glasses, but they do a little extra behind the scenes.
How Myopia Control Glasses Differ from Regular Glasses
Regular corrective glasses have one job. They make far-away objects look clear. This is helpful, of course, but it doesn’t help solve the underlying problem.
Myopia control glasses, however, not only sharpen children’s vision, but also slow the growth of the eye that ultimately drives nearsightedness. These lenses work by using tiny lenslets to change how light is focused on the edges of the eye. The eye interprets this as a signal to slow its front-to-back growth, thereby slowing down the rate at which a child’s vision gets worse over time.
Common Lens Designs
There are several glasses options available for myopia control:
- Essilor Stellest uses tiny raised rings across the lens.
- Hoya MiYOSMART carries a honeycomb pattern of small zones.
- SightGlass relies on a soft scatter of diffusion dots.
Our team can walk you through which design fits your child’s prescription and daily routine.
Do Myopia Control Glasses Work?
Myopia control glasses can significantly slow the progression of myopia. However, they only work if your child wears them consistently. If they’re left in a backpack or forgotten at home, they can’t actually do their job.
What Age to Start Myopia Control Glasses
Generally speaking, myopia control should start as soon as a child is diagnosed. The longer we have to protect their vision, the better they’re likely to see when they’re an adult.
Most myopia glasses have been shown to work starting at about age 6.
Signs to Watch For
You know your child better than anyone. A few habits can hint that their distance vision is slipping:
- Squinting at the board at school or the TV at home.
- Sitting close to screens or holding a tablet near their face.
- Prescription changes that come up more often than before.
If any of these sound familiar, a quick exam can clear things up.
Daily Habits That Support Your Child’s Eyes
Glasses are only one piece of the picture. Bright outdoor light has been shown to protect growing eyes, reducing their risk of developing myopia and slowing down progression of the condition. Aim to have your child spend at least 2 hours outside each day, whether that means a bike ride, a soccer game, or just goofing around in the backyard.
It’s also important to schedule yearly children’s eye exams. These appointments allow us to check your child’s vision, assess the health of their eyes, and track any changes over time.
Are you curious whether myopia control glasses fit your child? Our friendly team at Impressive Eyes Optical is here to help. Book an exam today and help your kid keep seeing the whole world clearly.
