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Myopia in children

Written by the eyesight.health editorial teamBased on NEI, AAO, NHS and Cochrane sourcesLast reviewed: Next review:

Not medical advice. This guide is general information, not medical advice. See an optometrist or ophthalmologist about your eyes. How we write our guides.

Myopia (nearsightedness) makes far-away things look blurry. It usually starts between ages 6 and 14 and gets worse until the early twenties. [1] Glasses or contact lenses correct the blur. Eye doctors can also discuss treatments that may slow myopia, and more time outdoors may help prevent it. [2][3]

At a glance

Usual start
Between ages 6 and 14. [1]
Common signs
Trouble seeing far away, squinting and eye strain. [1]
Correction
Glasses or contact lenses. [1]
Slowing it
Low-dose atropine drops, special glasses or contact lenses, and more time outdoors. [2]

What is myopia?

Myopia happens when the eyeball grows too long from front to back, or when the cornea (the clear front of the eye) or lens has an unusual shape. Light then focuses in front of the retina (the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye) instead of on it. [1]

Anyone can be nearsighted, but the risk is higher if family members are nearsighted too. [1] Myopia can keep getting worse until the eye stops growing, usually around age 20. [4]

Why does slowing it matter? People with severe myopia (high myopia) may have a higher risk of other eye problems, such as retinal detachment. [1] Myopia that keeps getting worse is also more likely to come with cataract and glaucoma. [3]

Signs your child may be nearsighted

  • trouble seeing things far away, such as the board at school [1][4]
  • squinting to see clearly [1]
  • eye strain (tired or sore eyes) [1]
  • sitting close to the TV, or holding a phone or tablet close to the face [4]
  • headaches, though these are less common [1]

Mild myopia may cause no symptoms, which is why regular eye checks matter. [1] See the AAO's screening schedule for children in our guide to how often to get an eye exam.

Does time outdoors help?

NEI says children who spend more time outdoors are less likely to become nearsighted, but experts aren't sure why. [1]

A 2024 Cochrane review looked at five randomized trials with 10,733 children, most aged 6 to 9. Most tested school programs that got children outside more, such as outdoor lessons or outdoor recess. [3] It found:

  • Programs that increase outdoor time over the long term may reduce new cases of myopia. [3]
  • After two years, 22.5% of children in the programs had developed myopia, compared with 26.7% of children without them (moderate-certainty evidence). [3]
  • The programs may also slow myopia that has already started, but the evidence is too weak to be sure. [3]

The programs varied, so the review does not give a set number of outdoor hours per day. The AAO advises making sure your child spends more time outdoors and limiting screen time. [2]

Treatments that may slow myopia

Myopia cannot be reversed. The goal of treatment is to keep it from getting worse. [2] Regular single-vision glasses correct blurry distance vision, but they don't slow myopia. [5] The AAO describes these options:

  • Low-dose atropine eye drops. These are used each night for children aged 5 to 18. They may slow myopia, though trial results have been mixed. [2][5] Side effects can include redness or itchiness around the eye. [2]
  • Myopia-control glasses. There are now FDA-approved glasses for children aged 6 to 12. The center of the lens corrects distance vision, while the rest blurs side vision to signal the eye to slow its growth. They work best when worn full-time. [2]
  • Myopia-control contact lenses. Special soft lenses are FDA-approved for children 8 and older. [5] Like all contact lenses, they carry a risk of eye infection. [2]
  • Orthokeratology (ortho-k). These are hard lenses worn overnight to reshape the cornea. Clear vision lasts only while the lenses are used, but ortho-k may give some lasting slowing of myopia. They also carry an infection risk. [2]

With more choices, eye doctors can tailor treatment to each child. Ask an eye doctor which option, if any, suits your child. [5]

When to see an eye doctor

Get urgent help now if

  • You suddenly see a lot of new floaters (small dark spots or squiggly lines that drift across your vision) [6]
  • You see flashes of light in one or both eyes [6]
  • A dark shadow or “curtain” appears at the side or in the middle of your vision. These can be signs of retinal detachment, which the National Eye Institute (NEI) calls a medical emergency. Go to your eye doctor or the emergency room right away. [6]

In the US, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. In other countries, call your local emergency number.

Make a routine appointment if

  • Your child fails a vision screening, or a doctor or school nurse refers them. [7]
  • Your child shows signs of nearsightedness, or has not had an eye test for 2 years. [4]
  • Your child complains about their vision or shows unusual visual behavior. [7]

An optometrist or ophthalmologist can check your eyes and tell you what is right for you.

Common questions

At what age does myopia usually start?

NEI says nearsightedness usually starts between ages 6 and 14 and gets worse until the early twenties. [1]

Can myopia in children be reversed?

No. The AAO says myopia cannot be reversed. Treatment aims to keep it from getting worse. [2]

Does time outdoors prevent myopia?

It may help. A 2024 Cochrane review found that programs that increase outdoor time may reduce new cases of myopia in children. The evidence on slowing existing myopia is less certain. [3]

Do regular glasses make myopia worse?

No. The AAO says glasses do not weaken your vision. Regular glasses correct blur but don't slow myopia, which is why other treatments exist. [8][5]

Sources

  1. National Eye Institute (NIH). “Nearsightedness (Myopia).” https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/nearsightedness-myopia. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  2. American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Myopia Control in Children.” https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/myopia-control-in-children. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  3. Kido A, Miyake M, Watanabe N. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2024 (peer-reviewed; doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013549.pub2). “Interventions to increase time spent outdoors for preventing incidence and progression of myopia in children.” https://europepmc.org/article/MED/38864362. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  4. NHS. “Short-sightedness (myopia).” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/short-sightedness/. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  5. American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Childhood Myopia Treatments: 5 Options to Slow Nearsightedness in Kids.” https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/misight-orthok-atropine-myopia-nearsighted-child. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  6. National Eye Institute (NIH). “Retinal Detachment.” https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/retinal-detachment. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  7. American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Eye Screening for Children.” https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/children-eye-screening. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  8. American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Common Eye and Vision Myths.” https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/common-eye-vision-myths-facts. Accessed 2026-11-05.

Content reviewed against sources listed. Last reviewed . This guide has not been reviewed by a clinician. Spotted a mistake? See our corrections policy.

Not medical advice. This guide is general information and does not replace an eye exam. For any concern about your eyes or vision, see an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

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