Understanding why your child's vision is changing
Myopia, or nearsightedness, usually develops when a child's eye grows too long for its focusing power. You can think of it as the eye growing too quickly in length. As the eye elongates, light comes into focus in front of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Distant objects become blurry, even though nearby objects may still look clear.
A child's eyes naturally grow during development. With progressive myopia, that growth moves the eye farther from where it needs to be for clear distance vision. The curvature of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, also affects how light focuses.
This explains why your child may need stronger glasses even when their current pair worked well several months ago. The glasses haven't become weaker. The eye has changed.
Why a stronger prescription deserves attention
Updating glasses helps your child see the classroom board and participate in daily activities. But ordinary glasses don't address the eye growth behind an increasing prescription.
As the eye becomes longer, its tissues stretch. Higher levels of myopia increase the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and myopic maculopathy, damage to the part of the retina responsible for detailed central vision. These problems do not happen to every person with myopia, but the risk is a reason to take childhood progression seriously.
Myopia management aims to slow further progression while the eyes are developing. It cannot reverse elongation that has already occurred.
Dr. Sturm recommends discussing treatment when myopia is identified. Waiting until a prescription becomes high can mean losing time during which treatment might have reduced additional progression.
Which children are more likely to develop myopia?
Family history matters. Children with myopic parents are more likely to become nearsighted themselves, although their prescriptions won't necessarily follow the same pattern.
Age also matters. A child who becomes myopic early has more years in which their prescription can increase. Myopia often progresses during the school years and may continue through adolescence.
Environmental factors contribute as well. Less time outdoors and prolonged close work are associated with myopia. Close work includes reading and homework, along with phones and tablets. This isn't a reason to blame a child's habits or a parent's decisions. It helps us identify practical changes that can support their care.
Signs your child may be nearsighted
Children may assume everyone sees the way they do. Some won't mention blurry vision until it begins interfering with school or activities.
Watch for:
- Squinting to see the television or objects across a room.
- Difficulty reading the classroom board.
- Holding books or screens unusually close.
- Headaches or complaints about distance vision.
- Trouble following a ball during sports.
These signs aren't specific to myopia, so an eye exam is needed to determine the cause. Difficulty seeing can affect learning and participation, and a child may become frustrated or less confident when tasks seem harder than they should.
Regular exams also help identify changes before your child notices a problem.
Myopia management in Cibolo with Dr. Sturm
At InSight EyeCare, we consider your child's prescription, age, and eye health when discussing treatment. Previous prescriptions can help show how quickly their vision has changed. Your family's routine also matters because treatment needs to be used consistently.
There are several ways to slow myopia progression. Each works differently, and the detailed pages below explain candidacy, daily use, and what to expect.
Orthokeratology
Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, uses custom gas-permeable contact lenses worn during sleep to temporarily reshape the cornea. Suitable patients can see during the day without glasses or daytime contacts, while treatment also helps slow myopia progression. The lenses require consistent wear and careful hygiene.
Learn more about Ortho-K for children
Soft myopia control contact lenses
Specialized soft lenses correct distance vision while using additional focusing zones to help slow eye growth. These lenses are worn during the day, and daily disposable options are available. They differ from ordinary contact lenses prescribed only to correct blurry vision.
Learn more about soft myopia control lenses
Atropine treatment
Low-dose atropine eye drops can help slow myopia progression and are generally used once daily. They don't correct distance vision, so children still need glasses or contact lenses. Dr. Sturm considers the formulation and your child's response when recommending this approach.
Learn more about atropine treatment
Myopia control glasses
Specialized glasses, including FDA-authorized Stellest lenses, correct vision and use lenslets to help slow progression. They provide an option for children who aren't ready for contact lenses. These are different from standard single-vision glasses.
Learn more about myopia control glasses
Book an exam, or call our office at (210) 659-3937 for more information.
Following your child's progress
Clear vision and slower myopia progression are different measures of success. A child may see well through their lenses while their eyes continue to grow.
Comparing examination findings over time helps determine how treatment is working. Axial length, the distance from the front to the back of the eye, provides information about that growth. This measurement is especially useful with ortho-k because reshaping the cornea changes the prescription without shortening the eye.
Treatment may need adjustment as your child grows. No approach guarantees that their prescription will remain unchanged.
What you can do at home
Encourage regular outdoor time, aiming for about two hours a day when practical, with appropriate sun protection. Evidence is strongest for reducing the chance of developing myopia. Outdoor time does not replace treatment for a child who is already myopic.
Break up extended periods of close work and encourage a comfortable reading distance. If your child already uses myopia treatment, following the prescribed routine and attending follow-up visits are part of assessing its effect.
Questions parents ask about myopia
Can myopia be reversed?
Current treatments do not reverse established eye elongation. Glasses and contact lenses correct focus, while myopia management aims to slow additional progression. Ortho-k temporarily changes the cornea's shape without shortening the eye.
Should we wait until my child's prescription gets worse?
You can discuss management as soon as myopia is diagnosed. Dr. Sturm will consider your child's age and findings before recommending treatment or monitoring. A high prescription isn't a requirement for having that discussion.
Will my child eventually outgrow myopia?
Myopia usually persists, even after the prescription becomes more stable. Progression often slows as children approach adulthood, but the timing varies. Follow-up examinations help determine whether changes are continuing.
How much does myopia management cost?
Cost depends on the treatment and the visits and supplies involved. Insurance benefits need to be checked for the specific service, so coverage shouldn't be assumed. Call our office at (210) 659-3937 for more information.
InSight EyeCare welcomes families from Cibolo, Schertz, and nearby northeast San Antonio communities, including military families at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
Book an exam with Dr. Sturm, or call our office at (210) 659-3937 for more information.