Nearsightedness and your child’s future vision.

🌟 Understanding Nearsightedness

At MomsForVision, we know how worrying it can be to hear that your child’s eyesight is getting worse. The good news? You’re not alone — and there’s more parents can do today than ever before.

This website was created to answer the questions from moms and dads about nearsightedness (myopia) — what it is, why it happens, and what you can do to protect your child’s vision.

From FDA-approved and FDA-authorized treatments to practical everyday habits, we’ll help you separate myth from medicine and make informed choices for your family’s eye health.

“💬 Because clearer vision isn’t just about seeing better today — it’s about seeing a brighter tomorrow.”
— Lisa D.

👓 What is nearsightedness? 

Nearsightedness, also called myopia, means your child can see close-up objects clearly, but things far away look blurry.

It happens when the eye grows too long from front to back, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it.

Myopia often begins between ages 6 and 12 and tends to worsen each year until early adulthood.¹

“In simple terms: your child’s eyes are growing - sometimes a little too much, too fast.”

How Nearsightedness Affects Vision

  • Mild myopia: Clear up close, blurry at a distance.

  • Moderate myopia: Blurry at distance and mid-range.

  • High myopia: Everything looks blurry without correction.

Children with higher myopia often need stronger prescriptions and may struggle to see the board without sitting in the front row.

These photos show simulated vision with different levels of myopia from mild to moderate to high.

👀 What are the signs that my child may be nearsighted?

You may not know right away that your child is nearsighted.  Watch for these early clues:

  • Holding their tablets or phones too close to their face

  • Sitting very close to the TV

  • Squinting in order to see things at a distance

  • Complaining of headaches or tired eyes

  • Isn’t interested in watching live sports or activities that involve seeing at a distance.

  • Difficulty seeing the board at school or sitting in the front row at school

If you notice any of these, schedule a comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist who understands myopia management.

🧬 Why is my child nearsighted?

Genetics play a role.

If one parent is nearsighted, there’s about a 25% chance your child will be too.

If both parents are, that rises to around 50%.²

But genes don’t tell the whole story — and they don’t explain why myopia rates are climbing worldwide.

According to the Brien Holden Vision Institute, 23% of the global population was myopic in 2010, and that number is projected to reach 50% by 2050.³

Lifestyle and environment matter too.

Studies show that:

  • Spending more time outdoors (especially in daylight) helps protect against myopia.⁴
  • Excessive screen time and long hours of near work (reading, homework, gaming) are linked with faster progression.⁵
“🌞 Encouraging outdoor play and regular breaks from screens can make a difference.”

💡What Can Parents do?

Modern treatment options include:

  • MiSight® 1 day contact lenses – the first FDA-approved soft contact lens proven to slow myopia in children 8–12 years old (approved 2021).⁶

  • Stellest® spectacle lenses – FDA-authorized in 2025. These lenses correct vision and are proven to slow myopia progression for children 6–12 years old.⁷

  • Orthokeratology (“Ortho-K”) lenses – overnight wear contact lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea. Note that these contact lenses are FDA approved for temporary correction of myopia, but are not indicated to slow the progression of myopia.

  • Prescription low-dose atropine eye drops – shown in studies to reduce the rate of myopia progression in some children. Note that atropine drops do not have an FDA approved indication to slow the progression of myopia.

Your optometrist will help determine which options are best for your child’s age, prescription, and lifestyle..

References:

  1. American Optometric Association. Myopia (Nearsightedness). aoa.org

  2. Jones et al., Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2007.

  3. Holden BA et al., Ophthalmology, 2016 (Vol 123, Issue 5, 1036–1042).

  4. Wu P-C et al., Ophthalmology, 2013;120(5):1080-1085 – Outdoor time reduces onset of myopia.

  5. Wang SK et al., JAMA Ophthalmology, 2020;138(6):620-629 – Near work and digital device use associated with myopia progression.

  6. U.S. FDA De Novo Authorization DEN200009 – MiSight® 1 day Contact Lens (CooperVision).

  7. U.S. FDA Press Release – FDA Authorizes Marketing of Essilor Stellest Spectacle Lenses to Slow Progression of Myopia in Children, Sept 25 2025.