Myopia

Myopia (also known as short‑sightedness or near‑sightedness) is an eye condition where distant objects (for example the board at school or the TV) appear blurred, while near vision (such as a book, iPad or iPhone) remains clear.

The usual cause is that the eyeball has become too long. As a child grows, the eye also grows. In some children, due to factors listed below, their eyes grow longer than normal — especially during the rapid changes of puberty. This is why myopia generally develops in childhood or the teen years.

At Groovy Glasses, we provide the best possible care in eye health by using leading‑edge technology.

In the last few decades, the rates of myopia have been increasing at a staggering rate. It is predicted that by the year 2050, half the world’s population will be short-sighted. Although the exact cause is unknown, many eye doctors believe the overuse of smartphones and computers could be a leading factor.

If an adult develops myopia, it is typically a mild condition that progresses slowly. However, if a child is diagnosed in the early vulnerable years of development, the condition can progress rapidly if untreated and cause long-term damaging effects of their adult eyesight.

Because myopia is a progressive condition which is associated with a higher risk of eye disease, it’s important to catch it as early as possible and start a prevention plan straight away.

A tailored approach to your child’s needs is critical. Your Groovy Glasses optometrist will discuss with you your child’s myopia profile, highlighting the relevant risk factors, and will talk through the treatment options available for your child.

World-recognised researchers have conducted extensive studies into how we can slow down or stop the progression of myopia. This is called Myopia Control. 
Currently, orthokeratology (Ortho‑K) is one of the most effective methods for myopia control. More information is available here.

Environmental risk factors are unlikely to affect the management pathway, however, they are modifiable and should be considered in view of the overall myopia risk profile. 

Tips for modifying environmental risk:

- Spend time outside. Two hours of outdoor time each day has been researched to reduce risk. Walk the dog, ride a bike, play in the backyard, or sit outside in the shade. It’s the brightness of natural sunlight that’s beneficial, not UV light, but still make sure you use proper sun protection.

- Take regular breaks from close work. 
Take a minute to look away and change your focus, or follow the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet (around 6 metres) away for at least 20 seconds.

A child with one myopic parent is three times more likely to develop myopia. If both parents are myopic, a child is six-times more likely. Children who have a genetic and/or environmental predisposition, and who also have a visual system which finds seeing up-close stressful (known as near-point-stress), have a high chance of developing myopia.

Previously, children were only prescribed glasses after becoming myopic. This reactive approach often resulted in rapid progression and higher prescriptions by the late teens.

With a new and greater understanding of what causes myopia, optometrists are now able to determine whether a child has a risk of becoming myopic, and intervene before a child notices any vision problems. This proactive approach to myopia is known as preventive medicine; it reduces the progression of myopia thereby reducing the eye health risks associated with higher levels of myopia.

If a child does become myopic, treatments are now focussed on addressing not just the distance blur, but also the up-close factors that cause progression, with the aim to slow down or stop myopia getting worse. This often involves addressing the near point stress with bifocal glasses or bifocal contact lenses. 

Don’t wait until your child is struggling to see. Book an eye assessment at our practice.

Myopia isn’t just about needing glasses — higher levels of myopia can increase the risk of eye diseases later in life, such as glaucoma or retinal changes.

Early intervention allows us to slow down its progression, giving your child a better chance of maintaining healthy vision into adulthood.
At Groovy Glasses, we use clinically proven myopia management methods, based on the latest research and tailored to each child’s needs.

The aim of myopia management is to slow the progression of nearsightedness, ideally reducing the rate of prescription increase by up to 50%. While it can’t reverse existing myopia, the focus is on controlling how quickly it develops over time.