When Can My Child Start Myopia Management?

Myopia control or management is an important sector of children's eye care. It deals with slowing down the progression of myopia. In rare instances, this condition can also begin and progress in early adulthood. Yet, the development of high levels of myopia occurs if the condition onsets at an early age. It is especially true for children under ten years.

Myopia management happens through special prescription contact lenses, eyeglasses, or eye drops. Currently, there is no solution to stop myopia progression. The only remedies available can only slow its progression.

When to Start Myopia Management

In a nutshell, there is no age requirement. As your pediatric eye doctor will tell you, the sooner you start myopia management, the better. If the doctor determines your child is myopic, you should begin the management immediately. Myopia progresses faster in children of younger ages. The progression occurs every few to several months. This can lead to higher levels of myopia as your child grows.

Myopia management helps decrease your kid’s lifelong risk of eye conditions. Some are severe and could lead to permanent vision impairment or blindness. Some of these eyesight-threatening conditions include glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment.

The Optimal Age for Childhood Myopia Management

Myopia management is most effective when your child is below 12 years old. When myopia onsets early, it means your child has more years for the condition to progress. Myopia progression tends to increase exponentially when your child is six or seven years old.

For this reason, you should start myopia control as soon as possible. Myopia management continues until there is little or no more myopia progression.

Is It Right for Your Child?

Presently, no solution can reverse myopia’s effects. But some solutions can slow it down. Some factors make your child a good candidate for myopia management. A child, teenager, or young adult with any level of nearsightedness is an ideal candidate.

Other Factors

Several factors can make your child suitable for a myopia control program. They include:

Children who are about six or seven years old
If your child is responsible and has some level of maturity
If your child’s myopic prescription keeps increasing every year
If your child is able and willing to take care of their contact lenses and eyeglasses

In Conclusion

It is worth noting that 95 percent of myopia progression cases stabilize. This often happens when young adults are about 21 years. This is because the eye stops growing at around this age. Eye specialists recommend myopia management for any myopic individual 20 years or younger.

Myopia management focuses on protecting your child from eye conditions that can affect their vision in the future. However, the appropriate myopia management solution varies from person to person. Consult your eye doctor on which method is the most appropriate for your little one.

For more on myopia management, contact Cobb Corner Eye Care at our office in Stoughton, Massachusetts. You can call (781) 344-3335 today to schedule an appointment.