Is your child squinting, rubbing their eyes or holding their tablet too close? Don’t ignore it! These could be the first signs of myopia, also known as nearsightedness.
With 48% of kids spending 6+ hours a day on screens, myopia is showing up earlier than ever. The scary part is that it can’t be reversed, but the good news is that catching it early can slow it down and protect your child’s vision for years to come.
There are simple steps you can take to help lower your child’s risk of becoming nearsighted, or to slow it down if it has already started.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia is the medical name for nearsightedness. It happens when your child’s eyeball is a little too long or the front of their eye, called the cornea, is curved too much. This makes light focus just in front of the back of the eye instead of on it. As a result, things that are far away look blurry, while things up close are clear.
Children with myopia see their eyesight get worse as they grow up. Myopia often starts when kids are young and can keep getting worse through the teenage years. It can keep getting worse into the early 20s before it starts to slow down. Signs that your child has myopia include blinking or rubbing their eyes a lot, holding books or tablets very close or saying they have headaches or feel tired.
What Causes Myopia in Children?
Myopia can be caused by genes (family history) and your child’s environment.
Nature or Nurture? How Genes and Habits Team Up
If one of your child’s parents is nearsighted, there’s a good chance your child will be too.
However, myopia is becoming more common in kids. Experts aren’t sure why, though it may be linked to spending a lot of time indoors on close-up activities like reading, using computers or playing on phones and tablets.
Close Work Make Kids’ Eyes Tired
Spending too much time on screens or close-up reading and homework can really tire out your child’s eyes. Phones, tablets and even books held too close make the tiny eye muscles work extra hard, which may cause sore, dry or red eyes, blurry vision and headaches.
Close-up work doesn’t cause nearsightedness by itself but doing it for 30–45 minutes without a break can make their eyes feel tired and stiff. Younger kids under 10 are especially at risk because their eyes are still growing.
Skipping Outdoor Play Can Affect Vision
Children who don’t spend a lot of time outdoors are more likely to develop myopia. Younger kids are even more at risk. Scientists think sunlight helps the eyes grow normally, while indoor light and lots of close-up work can make their eyes feel tired and grow too quickly. That’s why regular outdoor time is one of the best ways to help slow down nearsightedness.
Simple Ways to Slow Myopia in Children
Unfortunately, there is no cure for myopia. Once a child becomes nearsighted, it cannot be reversed naturally. But there are things you can do to protect your child’s eyes and slow it from getting worse.
Avoid myths about special exercises, unproven eye drops or home devices that claim to cure myopia in children because they do not work. Treatment for myopia should only be used under an eye doctor’s supervision. The goal is to support healthy eyes, reduce strain and slow progression so your child can see clearly for years to come.
Yearly Eye Exams Keep Myopia in Check
Myopia in children can usually be spotted during a full eye exam, and yearly check-ups are the best way to catch it early. Kids should see an eye doctor at 6 months to 2 years, at age 3, before starting school and every year after. These exams can also catch other health problems, like diabetes or eye health issues.
If your child doesn’t pass a vision screening at their pediatrician’s office or school, that’s another sign they may have myopia and should see an eye doctor.
While there is no cure for nearsightedness, some treatments and easy habits can help slow it down. Your child’s eye doctor might suggest eye drops, special contacts or lenses. They will also talk about screen time, reading habits and outdoor play, because these daily habits make a big difference in keeping your child’s eyes healthy.
Easy Habits for Eye-Friendly Screens and Reading
- 20-20-20 rule: The 20-20-20 rule is an easy way to give kids’ eyes a break from close-up work like reading or screens. Every 20 minutes, have your child look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This helps the tiny muscles inside the eyes relax, prevents eye strain and can help nearsightedness from getting worse.
- Elbow rule: The elbow rule is an easy way to make sure kids aren’t holding books or screens too close to their eyes. Have your child keep whatever they’re looking at about as far away as their elbow is when bent. This helps reduce eye strain and keeps their eyes from working too hard.
- 2-hour rule: Parents can help lower the risk of myopia in children by keeping fun screen time to about 2 hours a day, not counting schoolwork. Limiting screen time helps stop eyes from getting tired and may slow down nearsightedness.
The Right Amount of Outdoor Play for Healthy Eyes
- Get Outside: Spending time outside is one of the easiest ways to help protect your child’s vision. Experts recommend that kids get about 2 hours a day outdoors. This doesn’t have to be all at once—school playtime, short walks or a quick trip to the park can add up.
- Sun protection: While outside, make sure your child has sun protection like hats, sunglasses or shade. Even with these precautions, they still get the benefits for their eyes and overall health.
- Physical activity: It’s also important that children are physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. When this activity happens outdoors, it gives their eyes extra protection while keeping them healthy and strong.
Keeping Your Child’s Eyes Healthy for the Future
Myopia in children is common, but there are clear steps you can take to protect your child’s eyes and slow it from getting worse. Regular eye exams, healthy habits like proper screen use and outdoor play, and following your eye doctor’s advice can make a big difference. Staying aware and proactive gives your child the best chance for healthy vision as they grow, helping them see clearly today and in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are children diagnosed with myopia?
Myopia often starts when kids are young and can keep getting worse through the teenage years. It can keep getting worse into the early 20s before it starts to slow down.
How much time on screens is okay for kids’ eyes?
Parents can help lower the risk of myopia in children by keeping fun screen time to about 2 hours a day, not counting schoolwork. Limiting screen time helps stop eyes from getting tired and may slow down nearsightedness.
Can nearsightedness go away on its own?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for myopia. Once a child becomes nearsighted, it cannot be reversed naturally. But there are things you can do to protect your child’s eyes and slow it from getting worse.
How can I tell if my child’s myopia is getting worse?
Signs that your child has myopia include blinking or rubbing their eyes a lot, holding books or tablets very close or saying they have headaches or feel tired. If your child doesn’t pass a vision screening at their doctor’s office or school, that’s another sign they may have myopia and should see an eye doctor.
Does playing outside really help keep kids from getting myopia?
Spending time outside is one of the easiest ways to help protect your child’s vision. Experts recommend that kids get about 2-hours a day outdoors. This doesn’t have to be all at once—school playtime, short walks or a quick trip to the park can add up.
