Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common fast-growing vision condition in children. While glasses and contact lenses can correct vision, myopia management focuses on slowing the progression of myopia, especially in children and teens, to help protect long-term eye health.

What Is Myopia Management?

Myopia is a condition where distant objects appear blurry, such as seeing the board in school or the leaves on a tree. It often begins in childhood and can worsen as children grow.

At this time, there is no cure for myopia. Studies show that as nearsightedness increases, it can have a greater impact on long-term vision health. Because children’s eyes change more quickly as they grow, eye doctors focus on slowing myopia progression during these important years—when treatment can make the biggest difference for their future vision.

While glasses and contact lenses help children see clearly, they do not slow the progression of myopia. Myopia management is an effective treatment that uses specialized treatments to control how quickly myopia worsens over time.

Starting myopia management early can help reduce these risks and support long-term eye health.

Our Approach

At Iris Eyecare, we offer customized myopia management solutions designed to support clearer vision now and reduce the risk of eye complications in the future. We take a proactive, personalized approach to myopia management by:

• Performing advanced measurements to track eye growth

• Creating customized treatment plans

• Monitoring progress regularly and adjusting care as needed

• Educating families every step of the way

Is My Child a Candidate for Myopia Management?

Your child may benefit from myopia management if they:

• Have a nearsighted prescription that is increasing each year

• Were diagnosed with myopia at a young age

• Have one or both parents who are nearsighted

• Spend a lot of time on screens or doing close-up work

During the comprehensive eye exam, our team at Iris Eyecare can determine if myopia management is right for your child.

Myopia Management Options We Offer

We create personalized treatment plans based on your child’s age, prescription, and lifestyle.

Myopia-Control Glasses

For many families, specially designed glasses are the easiest place to start. These lenses look like regular glasses, but include advanced optical technology that helps guide eye growth over time while providing clear everyday vision. They offer a simple, comfortable, and non-invasive way to slow myopia progression.

Benefits:

• Looks and feels like regular glasses

• Simple daily routine for beginners

• Comfortable for full-time daily wear

atropine Eye Drops

As the eye grows longer than normal, myopia continues to worsen. Low-dose prescription Atropine eye drops is an effective treatment modality that works by slowing down the eye’s growth. Atropine gently dilates the pupil to stay more relaxed so the eye can see more comfortably. The drops are typically used once a day, usually at bedtime.

Benefits:

• Easy instructions to follow

• Can be used alone or combined with other therapies

• Minimal side effects at low doses

• Prescription is ordered for you & shipped directly to your home

Therapeutic Contact Lenses

Unlike standard contact lenses that only help children see clearly, specialized daily contact lenses are uniquely designed to reduce eye growth that contributes to myopia progression, while also correcting the child’s vision. Clinical studies have shown that children who wear these FDA-approved therapeutic contact lenses experience slower myopia progression compared to those wearing standard contact lenses.

Benefits:

• Comfortable and easy to wear

• Ideal for sports/active children and teens

• Best for responsible children and teens comfortable with contacts

Why Myopia Management Matters

Myopia isn’t just about needing stronger glasses. High myopia significantly increases the risk of serious eye disease later in life. Managing myopia early helps:

• Preserve long-term vision health

• Reduce the risk of stronger prescriptions

• Support healthy eye development

If your child is nearsighted or showing signs of worsening vision, early intervention can make a lasting difference. Schedule a consult today to find out how our team at Iris can help manage your child’s myopia effectively.