If your child is becoming short-sighted, one of the first questions parents ask us is how to slow myopia in children before it gets worse. It is a good question, and the encouraging news is that myopia is no longer something we simply watch progress year after year. With the right combination of everyday habits and evidence-based treatment, we can meaningfully slow how quickly a child’s short-sightedness advances and help protect their long-term eye health. At Adelaide City Optometrist, childhood myopia management is one of our clinical areas of special interest. Below we explain why slowing myopia matters, the habits that help at home, and the treatments we use in the clinic.

Why slowing myopia in children matters

Myopia is not just about needing stronger glasses each year. As a child’s eye grows too long from front to back, higher levels of myopia raise the lifetime risk of serious eye conditions, including:

  • Retinal detachment
  • Myopic macular degeneration
  • Glaucoma
  • Cataracts (earlier onset)

Experts predict that by 2050, around half of the world’s population may be short-sighted. That is why modern myopia management focuses on slowing the growth of the eye during childhood, when treatment has the greatest effect.

Bar chart showing how the risk of myopia-related complications like macular degeneration, retinal detachment, cataract and glaucoma rises with myopia severity
The higher a person's myopia, the greater their risk of serious eye disease. Even low myopia raises the risk of every complication. Source: Haarman et al. (2020), IOVS.

Can you actually slow myopia?

What the evidence says

Yes. Multiple large clinical studies now show that specific treatments slow myopia progression in children, often by around half compared with standard single-vision glasses. No treatment stops myopia completely, and results vary from child to child, but starting early and staying consistent gives the best outcome. The goal is a smaller final prescription and a healthier eye in adulthood. This is exactly why learning how to slow myopia in children matters so much for their long-term eye health.

How to slow myopia in children

The core of how to slow myopia in children is simple: start early and stay consistent

With everyday habits

Infographic showing five everyday habits to slow myopia in children: time outdoors, the 20-20-20 rule, healthy working distance, balanced screen time and good lighting
Simple daily habits can help slow myopia in children, from two hours outdoors to the 20-20-20 rule and good lighting.

Before we reach for any device or drop, simple lifestyle changes make a real difference and cost nothing:

  • Time outdoors: aim for around two hours of outdoor time each day. Natural daylight is protective and is one of the most well-supported ways to reduce myopia risk.
  • The 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes of near work, look at something about 20 feet (6 metres) away for 20 seconds.
  • Healthy working distance: encourage your child to hold books and screens at least an elbow’s length away, rather than up close.
  • Balanced screen time: break up long stretches of tablets, phones and gaming with outdoor or distance activities.
  • Good lighting: make sure reading and homework areas are well lit to reduce eye strain.

These habits support treatment, but for a child whose prescription is already increasing, habits alone are usually not enough. That is where clinical myopia control comes in.

With clinical treatments

When habits are not enough, how to slow myopia in children comes down to evidence-based treatment. After a comprehensive myopia assessment, we recommend an evidence-based treatment tailored to your child’s age, prescription, rate of progression and lifestyle. Options include:

For some children we combine treatments, for example atropine alongside myopia control lenses, when clinically appropriate. To learn more, see our Myopia Management Program page and our guide to 0.05% atropine eye drops.

When to see an optometrist

Early intervention gives the greatest opportunity to slow progression, so we recommend booking a dedicated myopia assessment if your child:

  • Has a prescription that keeps increasing at each check
  • Squints or moves closer to see the board, TV or screens
  • Has one or both parents who are short-sighted Children do not need a GP referral to have a myopia assessment.

During the appointment we measure how the eye is changing, including axial length via our partner Kingswood Eye Centre, and discuss which options are most suitable for your child.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age should myopia treatment start?

As soon as progression is noticed. The younger a child is when myopia begins, the more it tends to progress, so early assessment and treatment are especially valuable.

Will slowing myopia cure my child's short-sightedness?

No treatment reverses or cures myopia. The aim is to slow how fast it progresses so your child ends up with a lower final prescription and reduced long-term eye health risk

Is more outdoor time really enough on its own?

Outdoor time helps reduce the risk of myopia developing and supports treatment, but once a child is already progressing, clinical myopia control is usually needed as well.

How do I know which treatment is right for my child?

Every plan for how to slow myopia in children is tailored to your child. It depends on their age, prescription, lifestyle and how quickly their myopia is changing. We discuss all suitable options at a comprehensive myopia assessment and recommend the best fit together with you.

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Early intervention is the absolute key to slowing myopia and protecting your child’s long-term eye health. Let’s work together to give them the clearest possible future.
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