Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, often develops in childhood and can progress quickly without intervention. Early treatment can help protect your child’s future vision.
If you’re looking for myopia management in Farmington, understanding when to begin treatment is key. Let’s take a closer look at the best age to start myopia control and the options available to your family.
When to start myopia management
The ideal time to start myopia control is when signs of myopia first appear, typically between ages 6 and 12. Starting treatment early allows the most time to slow the eye’s elongation, which is what causes myopia to worsen over time.
Since children’s eyes grow rapidly, untreated myopia can progress quickly. Slowing this progression early helps reduce the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.
Not sure if your child has myopia? A pediatric eye exam can detect it early, even before your child complains of blurry distance vision.
How to slow myopia progression
At SIGHT, we offer several evidence-based options for managing myopia in children:
Orthokeratology (ortho-k)
Ortho-k involves wearing custom-designed rigid lenses overnight that gently reshape the cornea while your child sleeps. During the day, they can see clearly without glasses or contacts.
Research reveals ortho-k provides a 50% myopia control effect1, meaning it can slow the progression of myopia by about half. It’s a great option for active children and those who aren’t ready for daytime contact lens wear.
MiSight® 1 day contact lenses
These daily disposable lenses are the first and only FDA-approved soft contacts specifically designed to slow myopia progression in children aged 8–12 at the start of treatment.
MiSight® contact lenses use ActivControl® Technology, which creates multiple focus points in the eye. This helps reduce the stimulus for eye elongation, a leading factor in myopia progression.
MiSight® lenses have been clinically proven to slow progression by up to 59% on average, and 41% of eyes had no progression 2.
Prescription eye drops
Low-dose atropine eye drops are another safe and effective way to manage myopia. Used nightly, these drops have been shown to reduce myopia progression in children. This treatment is often paired with glasses or contact lenses.
Why early intervention matters
Myopia isn’t just about needing stronger glasses; it’s also about their eye health. As the eye becomes more nearsighted, the risk of serious vision complications increases. That’s why it’s important to address myopia while the eyes are still growing.
Starting treatment early can:
- Slow down the progression of nearsightedness
- Preserve long-term eye health
- Reduce the need for stronger prescriptions over time
- Support better academic and athletic performance
Don’t let your child’s vision worsen
If your child is between the ages of 6 and 12 and showing signs of nearsightedness, or their prescription keeps increasing each year, now is a good time to explore your options.
Contact SIGHT today to schedule an appointment and learn more about your child’s candidacy for myopia management. The earlier you start, the greater the impact you can have on their lifelong vision.
References:
- (n.d.). Ortho-k for myopia control in children. MyKidsVision. Retrieved July 21, 2025, from https://www.mykidsvision.org/knowledge-centre/orthok-for-myopia-control-in-children
- (n.d.). How Do MiSight® 1 Day Contact Lenses Work? CooperVision. Retrieved July 21, 2025, from https://www.misight.com/blog/how-do-misight-1-day-contact-lenses-work
