What Are the Early Signs of Myopia in Children?

Myopia is one of the most common vision conditions in children today. It causes distant objects to appear blurry while nearby objects remain clear. Because myopia tends to progress as children grow, early detection is crucial for protecting their long-term eye health. Understanding the early signs can help parents take proactive steps to manage the condition effectively.

 

Common Early Signs of Myopia

•          Squinting to See Clearly: Children with myopia often squint when trying to focus on distant objects, such as the board at school or the TV at home. Squinting temporarily sharpens vision by reducing the amount of light entering the eyes.

•          Sitting Too Close to Screens or the TV: If your child frequently moves close to the television, computer, or holds books very near their face, it may be a sign that they are struggling to see from a distance.

•          Frequent Headaches or Eye Strain: Uncorrected myopia forces the eyes to work harder, leading to eye fatigue and headaches, particularly after school or screen time.

•          Rubbing Eyes or Excessive Blinking: Eye rubbing and blinking can be subtle indicators of discomfort caused by blurred distance vision.

•          Difficulty Seeing the Board at School: Teachers often notice when students have trouble copying from the board or seem inattentive during visual tasks - this could point to undiagnosed myopia.

 

Why Early Detection Matters

Myopia usually begins in childhood and can worsen rapidly without intervention. High myopia not only increases dependency on glasses or contact lenses but also raises the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

That’s why regular pediatric eye exams are essential. A comprehensive eye exam at Yunic Vision Care allows our doctors to detect early signs of myopia before your child’s vision or academic performance is affected.

 

Myopia Management Options

At Yunic Vision Care, we offer personalized myopia management programs to help slow the progression of nearsightedness and protect your child’s long-term eye health.

•          Ortho-K (Orthokeratology): Specially designed contact lenses worn overnight gently reshape the cornea, allowing clear daytime vision without glasses or contacts and helping to slow myopia progression.

•          Multifocal Contact Lenses: These specially designed daytime contact lenses have different lens zones that help the eyes focus properly and reduce strain. Research has shown they can effectively slow myopia progression in children while providing clear, comfortable vision throughout the day.

•          Atropine Eye Drops: Low-dose atropine drops are another proven method to control myopia in children by reducing the eye’s tendency to elongate as it grows.

Our doctors carefully evaluate each child’s vision, lifestyle, and eye health to determine the most suitable treatment plan.

 

Take the First Step Toward Better Vision

Myopia is becoming increasingly common among children, but with early detection and proper management, its progression can be slowed. Regular pediatric eye exams are the key to identifying nearsightedness before it begins to impact your child’s daily life or academic performance.

Schedule a pediatric eye exam at Yunic Vision Care to detect myopia early and explore advanced management options. Visit our office in Lawrence Township, Brick, or Ocean, New Jersey. Please call (609) 779-7015, (732) 262-6313, or (732) 481-0026 to book an appointment today.