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Myopia, also called short-sightedness, causes blurred distance vision. You may notice trouble reading road signs, seeing the whiteboard at school, watching sport from a distance, or recognising faces across a room.
At Innovative Eye Care, we assess myopia at our Adelaide and Henley Beach practices. We look beyond your prescription to understand why your vision has changed and whether the eye is still growing.
Myopia occurs when light focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This can happen when the eye grows too long, or when the eye’s focusing power is too strong. The result is clearer near vision and blurred distance vision.
When myopia is linked to eye growth, it needs careful monitoring. As the eye lengthens, the tissues at the back of the eye stretch. This can increase the risk of serious eye disease later in life.
You or your child may be short-sighted if you notice:
A child may not realise their distance vision is blurry. An eye test can detect myopia early and help guide the right treatment plan. Childhood myopia often starts during the school years and can progress as children grow.
Myopia often begins in childhood and may worsen as children grow. It can develop due to a mix of genetic, visual, and lifestyle factors.
Risk factors include:
Glasses and contact lenses can correct blurred vision, but they do not always address the eye growth behind progressive myopia.
Higher levels of myopia increase the lifetime risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and myopic retinal disease. The risk rises as the eye becomes longer. When axial length exceeds 26.5 mm, the risk becomes more concerning.
Early care can help reduce future risk and may reduce the need for stronger, thicker lenses over time. Myopia control treatments aim to slow the progression of refractive error and axial elongation in children.
Childhood myopia needs close attention because early onset increases the chance of higher myopia later. A child who becomes myopic at a younger age has more years for their prescription and eye length to progress.
At Innovative Eye Care, we assess children for myopia and discuss whether myopia control is suitable. Myopia control aims to slow eye growth, not only correct blurry vision.
Learn more about myopia control
A standard prescription check is useful, but it does not show the full picture.
Our assessment may include:
The parent guide states that ocular biometry directly measures axial length and helps track eye growth. It also notes that subjective refraction alone is a poor marker for myopia control success.
Treatment depends on your age, prescription, eye health, and lifestyle.
Options may include:
Myopia control treatments for children and teenagers
Innovative Eye Care has practices at 300 Wakefield Street, Adelaide, and 330 Seaview Road, Henley Beach.
Learn more about myopia controlBook your appointment now for personalised eye care tailored just for you.