Myopia : The Importance of Early Detection for Academic Success

How do I know if my child is myopic?

Myopia in children, often linked to elongated eyeballs, can manifest in various ways and at different ages. Although not always symptomatic, here are some indicators to watch for:

• Difficulty seeing objects at a distance
• Frequent squinting or rubbing of the eyes
• Headaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Significant fluctuations in academic performance
  

Given that 80% of learning involves vision¹, a sudden decline in academic results may be due to undiagnosed vision issues.

Why is it crucial to monitor myopia from a young age?

Preventing myopia progression early on offers long-term benefits, including reducing the risk of future eye complications. Severe myopia is associated with an increased risk of serious eye conditions in adulthood, such as glaucoma or retinal abnormalities.

Early diagnosis also lowers the risk of advanced myopia, sometimes allowing for smoother adaptation to corrective methods.

To manage myopia and maximize chances of slowing its progression, your child's optometrist can suggest various options such as specially designed glasses or contact lenses for children with myopia control needs.

The importance of annual eye exams for school-aged children

Currently, over one-third of the Canadian population is estimated to be myopic³. In 25 years, it's projected that 52% of the global population will be affected by myopia⁴. Regular vision monitoring for children is essential to ensure their academic development and long-term visual health.

Another crucial factor is that myopia is appearing earlier and progressing more rapidly than in previous generations. According to a study, myopia onset in children now occurs at ages 6 or 7, compared to 12 or 13 previously⁵.

For these reasons, an annual eye exam is recommended for school-aged children. Monitoring children's visual health from a young age is an investment in their future.

Is your child in school or starting soon? Schedule an eye exam if their last clinic visit was over a year ago.

*Indications for use in Canada: MiSight (omafilcon A) soft contact lenses for myopia control can reduce myopia progression in children (ages 6-18) and correct ametropia. In a clinical study, reduced myopia progression was observed in children who wore the lenses for 12 hours (8-16 hours) per day, 6.4 days (5-7) per week. Permanent myopia control after discontinuation of corneal contact lens wear has not been studied clinically. MiSight (omafilcon A) soft contact lenses for myopia control are disposable and indicated for daily wear. When prescribed for daily wear, they should be discarded after removal. †Compared to single vision daily disposable contact lenses over a 3-year period.