Is your child squinting at the whiteboard? Or maybe they’re sitting closer to the TV than they used to? These are often the first signs of myopia in children, and they're worth taking seriously.
Myopia (short-sightedness) is one of the fastest-growing eye conditions among Australian kids. Rates are rising, the condition starts earlier than it used to, and if it's not managed well, it can have real consequences for your child's long-term eye health.
Here's what every parent needs to know.
Key Takeaways
- Myopia causes blurry distance vision because the eye grows too long from front to back
- Around one-third of Australian children are now affected, and rates are expected to keep climbing
- Screen time and reduced outdoor time are key contributing factors, alongside genetics
- Early detection matters: the younger myopia develops, the faster it tends to progress
- There are several proven ways to slow myopia progression, including specialised lenses, eye drops, and more time outdoors
- Regular eye tests are the most important thing you can do as a parent
What Is Myopia, Exactly?
Myopia (commonly called short-sightedness) occurs when the eyeball grows slightly too long from front to back. Instead of light focusing precisely on the retina, it lands just in front of it. Close objects stay sharp. Distant ones blur.
It's not simply a case of needing glasses. The elongation of the eye is what matters because it's progressive. Two children with identical prescriptions can have very different long-term outlooks depending on whether their eyes are still growing or have stabilised.
This is why simply handing a child a new pair of glasses every year isn't enough. Myopia management is about addressing the underlying growth of the eye, not just correcting blurry vision in the moment. If you're noticing signs of blurry vision in your child, it's worth getting them checked promptly.
How Common Is Childhood Myopia in Australia?
Myopia rates in Australia have been tracking upward for decades. Approximately 6 million Australians (more than 20% of the population) currently live with myopia, and if current trends continue, that figure could rise to 50% by 2050.
Compared with 40 years ago, the prevalence of myopia has doubled in Australian school-aged children. What's particularly concerning isn't just how many children are developing myopia in Australia, but also how young they are when it starts. The earlier myopia develops, the more time it has to progress during childhood and adolescence.
Why Is Childhood Myopia Increasing?
Myopia has both genetic and environmental drivers, and in Australia right now, the environmental side is pushing rates up.
Genetics
If one or both parents are short-sighted, their children are at higher risk. But genetics alone doesn't explain the rapid rise we're seeing. Genes don't change that quickly. Lifestyle does.
Less Time Outdoors
Studies have shown that boosting time outdoors by one to two hours per day may reduce the onset of myopia over a two to three-year period. Researchers believe natural light promotes the release of dopamine, a molecule that can slow eye growth and help prevent myopia from developing.
More Screen Time
As screens have shrunk, we tend to hold them closer. This prolonged focusing at short range has long been associated with the development of myopia. When a child spends hours each day on a tablet, phone, or laptop, the combination of close-range focus and reduced outdoor time is a real risk factor for myopia in children.
Modern childhood, spent increasingly indoors and in front of screens, is creating conditions where myopia is more likely to develop and progress.
Signs Your Child Might Have Myopia
Children don't always tell you their vision is blurry, often because they don't realise it isn't normal. Parents are usually the first to notice something's off.
Watch for:
- Squinting to see distant objects (the TV, a whiteboard, a face across the room)
- Sitting closer to screens or the television than they used to
- Complaints of headaches or tired eyes, especially after school
- Difficulty at school, including struggling to copy from the board or follow projections
- Rubbing their eyes frequently or blinking more than usual
- Losing interest in sports or outdoor activities where distance vision matters
Younger children in particular may not be able to articulate blurry vision. Behaviour is often the tell. If you're noticing any of these signs, it's time to get your child's eyes tested for short-sightedness sooner rather than later.
Why Early Detection Is So Important
Myopia in children progresses fastest between the ages of 7 and 10, then typically slows year by year through adolescence. The earlier it's detected, the earlier management can begin, and that timing makes a real difference to outcomes.
An untreated child who develops myopia at age 7 will almost certainly have a higher prescription by their teens than a child whose myopia was caught early and managed well. Higher levels of myopia carry greater long-term risks: detrimental impacts on the eyeball include a several-fold increase in the risk of many sight-threatening conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachments and myopic retinopathy.
This is why your child’s eye test frequency matters. Children should have a comprehensive eye test before starting school and at least every two years thereafter. Visits should be more frequent if myopia is present or progressing.
How to Slow Myopia Progression in Children
This is where things get genuinely encouraging. There's no reversing myopia, but several well-evidenced approaches can slow myopia progression in children.
Spend More Time Outdoors
Increasing outdoor time by 1 to 2 hours per day may reduce the onset of myopia over a 2- to 3-year period, as natural light is thought to stimulate dopamine release in the eye, which in turn slows eye growth.
Encourage at least 90 minutes of outdoor time each day. Not just exercise, but time in natural daylight. This is particularly important for children who haven't yet developed myopia but are at risk (for example, if one or both parents are short-sighted).
Specialised Myopia Control Lenses
Standard single-vision glasses correct blurry distance vision but do nothing to slow the progression of childhood myopia in Australia. Specialised myopia control spectacle lenses adjust the focus in specific areas of the lens to modify the signals that cause the eye to elongate. These are a practical, non-invasive option for children as young as 6.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Ortho-K involves wearing specially designed rigid contact lenses overnight. They gently reshape the cornea while your child sleeps, providing clear vision during the day without glasses or daytime contacts.
Ortho-K is a popular option for active children who don't want to wear glasses during sport. It does require consistent use and proper hygiene to be safe and effective.
It’s important to note that not all optometrists, including City Optics, offer Ortho-K.
Soft Multifocal Contact Lenses
For children who are ready for contact lenses, soft multifocal options designed specifically for myopia management are another strong choice. Daily soft multifocal contact lenses combine central correction with peripheral defocus.
Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops
Atropine eye drops, used in very low concentrations (typically 0.01% to 0.05%), are a pharmacological option that works on the retina and sclera to slow eye elongation. They're applied at bedtime and are generally well tolerated in children. This option is often used in combination with myopia-control lenses for children with more rapid progression.
An optometrist who specialises in myopia management will help you understand which approach is right for your child's age, prescription, and lifestyle.
What Parents Can Do Right Now
Whether your child has already been diagnosed with myopia or you're being proactive, here are practical steps worth taking:
- Book a comprehensive eye test
- Encourage 90+ minutes outdoors daily
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule during near work: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 metres away for 20 seconds
- Limit recreational screen time to under 2 hours per day for school-aged children
- Keep screens at arm's length and slightly below eye level
- Ask specifically about myopia management at your next optometry appointment
Get Your Child's Eyes Checked at City Optics
If you're concerned about myopia in your child, the team at City Optics in Sydney can help. We offer comprehensive eye tests, myopia screening, and specialist myopia management options tailored to children of all ages.
Book an appointment with City Optics today. And if cost is a consideration, find out more about our bulk-billed eye tests, because every child deserves clear vision, and getting their eyes checked shouldn't be a barrier.