Shortsightedness in children, commonly known as childhood myopia is an eye condition that impacts children globally. This vision problem may still allow children to see properly up close but cause blurry vision when seeing objects at a distance.
Understanding how to address and improve this issue is vital for parents who want to support their children’s eye health. This article explores the nuances of managing shortsightedness in children and emphasises the advantages of eyeglasses and wearing certain contact lenses while providing tips on beneficial myopia prescriptions.

Advice on how to improve short-sightedness in children
Childhood myopia goes beyond any other eyesight challenge; it can significantly impact a child’s daily activities, including their academic performance and sports involvement. When a child has short-sightedness or myopia, the shape of their eye causes light rays to focus incorrectly, resulting in objects appearing blurry. How to improve short-sightedness in children? First things first – timely detection and proper care. These are two of the most crucial to halt myopia progression and prevent serious eye issues down the road.
How to improve childhood myopia
There are ways to improve short-sightedness in children and these may require a multifaceted approach. Regular eye tests play a crucial role. This helps to monitor the condition’s development and adjust myopia prescriptions as needed.
When it comes to managing nearsightedness, there are approaches beyond regular glasses, such as:
- Spending more time outdoors. This is highly beneficial for your children, as it can help slow down the progression of short-sightedness. Natural light and focusing on distant objects as a form of eye exercise are good for eye health.
- Atropine eye drops. These are prescribed in relevant doses and are effective in some cases for slowing down the advancement of nearsightedness but it’s important to consult with an optometrist before using them.
- Orthokeratology (Ortho K). This is a non-surgical method that involves wearing specially designed contact lenses overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea and improve vision during the day.
Implementing these strategies early in life can play a positive role in managing a child’s myopia.
Childhood myopia: when to opt for glasses
In cases where childhood myopia is present, opting for the right type of glasses is often the best approach. They are user-friendly and affordable and they can come with beneficial features like anti-glare coatings and UV protection.
For children, glasses are usually recommended due to their simplicity and safety.
Choosing the right glasses
For children who are suffering from myopia, it’s key to select the ideal glasses and comfortable frames matched with lenses that can endure the active lifestyle of any typical childhood. As children get older, contact lenses emerge as an ideal solution for correcting myopia. These contact lenses offer multiple advantages over glasses; such as improved vision, reduced visual distortion and greater flexibility, especially when regular physical activities are involved. Night lenses and Orthokeratology are especially beneficial to help with myopia problems.
These modern-day contact lenses slow the development of myopia and feature options that are specifically crafted to slow down the progression of this issue. However, it’s crucial to evaluate a child’s responsibility and readiness for wearing contact lenses since they require particular handling and hygiene practices. A professional optometrists practice, such as Dolphins can help guide you and your child through the process.
Handling childhood myopia prescriptions
When getting a myopia prescription, as professional optometrists, we maintain our commitment to individualised care to correct the level of short-sightedness appropriately. In addition, it is also important to book regular eye tests which are an essential part of the long-term solution ensuring the prescription stays current as the child matures.
Understanding the specifics of a myopia prescription may appear overwhelming, however, a professional optometrist can assist parents in navigating through the various choices ensuring that the selected eyewear adequately corrects the child’s vision and that they are comfortable with them.
Effectively managing childhood myopia demands a stance and a focus on getting regular eye tests as well as taking the appropriate corrective measures and a few lifestyle modifications. Whether opting for glasses or contact lenses the aim is to offer your child the opportunity to experience normal vision and an enhanced quality of life.
If your child is showing signs of nearsightedness or if you need guidance on how to handle myopia, our team at Dolphins Optometrists is here to assist. With experience in children’s eye care, we provide eye tests, a variety of glasses and contact lenses tailored for children and expert tips on managing myopia advancement.
Ensure your child’s vision and development aren’t limited by myopia. For further details or to book an eye test contact us at 01444 454808 or hello@dolphinsoptometrists.co.uk