If your child has myopia, also known as nearsightedness or shortsightedness, they’ll need regular appointments with an eye doctor. Their optometrist or ophthalmologist will check to see if the myopia has progressed and your child needs stronger lenses. This is very likely to happen: Once it starts in childhood, the condition usually gets worse every few months until at least the teen years.
At these checkups, you’ll want to be prepared with questions so you can understand your child’s myopia and your treatment options.
Questions for Your Child’s Eye Doctor
If your child has just been diagnosed with myopia, there are many things you’ll want to know. Here are some questions you might ask to better understand the condition:
- What is myopia?
- What causes myopia?
- What are the signs of myopia?
- How do you test for myopia?
- How is myopia treated?
- Does myopia get worse over time?
- Can myopia progression be stopped or slowed down?
- Does myopia lead to other vision problems?
- How could myopia affect my child’s daily life?
- Should my child see a specialist?
If your eye doctor has found that your child needs corrective lenses, you may want to ask some of these questions:
- How often should my child have an eye exam?
- Can myopia be cured?
- What is the goal of the treatment? Is it slowing myopia or only correction?
- Are there alternatives to glasses for my child’s myopia?
- Is laser treatment a possibility? When?
- Is vision therapy an option?
- Are contact lenses right for my child? How old should they be to wear them?
Once your child grows, you may have other questions, such as:
- How can I get my child to wear their glasses?
- Is there an age when myopia stops progressing?
- How do you measure myopia progression?
- What are the complications of myopia or risks of other conditions?
- What can I do at home to support my child’s myopia treatment?
- Is there any way to track my child’s vision progress at home?
- Can wearing glasses too much actually hurt my child’s vision?
Show Sources
Photo Credit: DigitalVision / Getty Images
SOURCES:
American Academy of Ophthalmology: “Myopia Control in Children,” “Four Alternatives for Eyeglasses for Children with Myopia.”
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus: “Glasses for Children.”
American Optometric Association: “Myopia (nearsightedness).”
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: “The Complications of Myopia: A Review and Meta-Analysis.”
HealthyChildren.org: “Myopia (Nearsightedness) in Children & Teens.”
Johns Hopkins: “What is myopia?”
Kaiser Permanente: “Vision Screening and Eye Exams for Children and Teens.”
Mayo Clinic: “Nearsightedness.”
My Kids Vision: “Myopia myths and treatments for short sightedness,” “Understanding expectations in myopia control.”
Optometrists Network: “Why Is My Child’s Myopia Worsening?” “Does Myopia Progression Affect Adults?” “Children’s Vision: Most Asked Questions.”
Prevent Blindness: “Answers to 8 Parent Questions About Myopia.”
University of Nevada, Reno: “Promoting Wearing of Glasses.”
FDA: “When is LASIK not for me?”
End Myopia: “Easily Check Your Diopter Numbers.”
