(03) 9596 1238
If your child has been diagnosed with myopia, it can feel like a lot of information to take in at once. Parents want to know which myopia control options are safe, effective, and realistic for busy school and sport schedules.
Myopia control aims to slow the speed of prescription changes while keeping your child seeing clearly day to day. At Bayside Eyecare, children’s optometrists create personalised myopia treatment plans that may include myopia control glasses, myopia control contact lenses, and low-dose atropine eye drops for myopia, along with lifestyle advice such as outdoor time and screen habits.
Understanding Myopia In Children
What Is Myopia?
Myopia, or short-sightedness, means distant objects look blurry while close-up tasks like reading and drawing stay clear. It usually occurs because the eye grows longer than average, so light focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it.
Common signs of myopia in children include:
- Squinting to see the board at school or the TV
- Missing the ball in sport more often than usual
Most children who develop myopia start to change between about 6 and 12 years of age, and prescriptions can increase through the teenage years.
Why Myopia Management Is Important
Higher levels of myopia are linked with a greater lifetime risk of eye problems such as retinal changes, glaucoma, and myopic maculopathy. Slowing the rate of prescription change helps reduce that future risk and supports more comfortable vision for school, reading, and sport.
Myopia control does not switch myopia off completely. Instead, it aims to slow progress so your child reaches adulthood with a lower prescription than they otherwise would. Early and consistent management usually brings the best outcomes.
Available Myopia Control Options
Myopia Control Glasses
How they work
Myopia control glasses use specially designed lenses that create clear central vision and a gentle “treatment zone” in the surrounding areas of the lens. This pattern changes the way light focuses on the retina and sends a different growth signal to the eye, which can help slow progression compared with standard single-vision lenses.
Modern myopia control glasses:
- Look similar to regular children’s glasses
- Fit into a wide range of child-friendly frames
- Can include extras like anti-reflective and UV coatings
Expected outcomes
Many children wearing myopia control glasses show slower prescription changes over time compared with wearing standard lenses. Your child may still need updated glasses as they grow, although the jumps in prescription are often smaller.
Visit frequency
- Initial consultation and fitting
- Review after the first few months
- Ongoing myopia control reviews, usually every 6 to 12 months, or more often if the eyes are changing quickly
These appointments monitor prescription, eye length, eye health, and how your child is coping with their glasses at school and during activities.
Myopia Control Contact Lenses
Myopia control contact lenses can be worn in the daytime or overnight, depending on the type recommended. At Bayside Eyecare, options include soft myopia control contact lenses and overnight orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses.
Types
- Soft myopia control contact lenses
- Worn during the day, removed at night
- Designed with a special myopia control lens pattern
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses
- Custom rigid lenses worn overnight
- Temporarily reshape the front of the eye so most children see clearly through the day without glasses or lenses
How they work
Both types of myopia control contact lenses create a treatment pattern on the front of the eye that provides clear central vision with a controlled blur pattern in the periphery. This helps reduce the stimulus for the eye to keep growing longer. Ortho-K lenses reshape the cornea overnight, while soft lenses apply their effect while your child is wearing them.
Expected outcomes
Many children experience slower prescription changes compared with standard contact lenses. Ortho-K has the extra benefit of clear vision throughout the day without glasses, which suits swimming, sport, and active play. Soft myopia control contact lenses suit children who prefer a more familiar contact lens routine.
Your optometrist will explain expected outcomes for your child based on age, current prescription, family history, and lifestyle.
Visit frequency
- Detailed initial assessment and fitting of contact lenses
- Teaching visit so your child learns safe application and removal of contact lenses
- Follow-up visits in the first weeks to check eye health and lens fit
- Ongoing myopia control reviews at intervals recommended by your optometrist
These visits monitor eye health, lens comfort, handling, and prescription changes. Good hygiene and consistent follow-up are essential parts of myopia control with contact lenses.
Atropine Eye Drops For Myopia
How they work
Low-dose atropine eye drops for myopia are used once a day, usually at night. Atropine acts on receptors in the eye that are involved in eye growth. In low concentrations, it appears to reduce the signalling that encourages the eye to lengthen.
Children using atropine eye drops still wear glasses or contact lenses for clear vision. The drops work in the background to slow the rate of prescription change.
Expected outcomes
Research shows that low-dose atropine can slow myopia progression in many children. The effect is often strongest in the early years of use. Some children may have mild light sensitivity or slight near blur, although lower concentrations are chosen to reduce these effects.
Your optometrist will discuss the likely benefits for your child and decide whether atropine should be used alone or in combination with myopia control glasses or contact lenses.
Visit frequency
- Initial consultation to confirm suitability and explain the drop routine
- Early review after starting treatment to check pupil size, focusing, and comfort
- Ongoing myopia control reviews, usually every 6 to 12 months, to track prescription, eye health, and any side effects
Families also need regular prescriptions for the drops and clear instructions on storage and use.
Comparing Myopia Control Options Side By Side
Every child is different, and no single myopia control option suits everyone. The table below gives an overview to help you compare choices before your appointment.
| Option | Effectiveness for slowing myopia* | Age suitability | Lifestyle considerations | Clinic visit schedule | Pros | Things to keep in mind |
| Myopia control glasses | Good effect for many children compared with standard lenses | Often suitable from early primary school | Easy to wear, simple cleaning, compatible with most activities | Initial fitting, then 6–12 monthly reviews | Familiar, non-invasive, very low risk | Glasses can fog or slip during sport |
| Soft myopia control contact lenses | Strong effect in many studies | Often from around 8–10 years, depending on maturity | Clear vision for sport and active play, no frame on the face | Extra visits in the first months, then 3–6 monthly | Great for active kids, good cosmetic appeal | Needs reliable hygiene and supervision at home |
| Ortho-K lenses | Strong effect plus clear vision through the day | Usually older primary and high school kids with suitable prescriptions | No lenses or glasses during the day, ideal for swimming and sport | Several early visits, then 6 monthly reviews | Daytime freedom from glasses, predictable routine at night | Needs careful cleaning, not suitable for every prescription |
| Atropine eye drops for myopia | Strong effect for many children over several years | Often from early primary school and older | Works quietly in the background, used alongside glasses or contact lenses | Regular reviews every 4–6 months | Simple nightly routine, can combine with other treatments | Possible mild light sensitivity or near blur for some kids |
*Effectiveness varies between children. Your optometrist will explain which options match your child’s prescription, eye health, and daily routine.
Bayside Eyecare Helps You Make The Right Decision For Your Child
How Bayside Eyecare Can Help
Bayside Eyecare provides comprehensive myopia assessments for children in Brighton and the wider Bayside area. A myopia control consultation looks at:
- Current prescription and how fast it is changing
- Eye health and family history
- Lifestyle factors such as outdoor time, screen use, reading, and sport
- Your child’s confidence with glasses, contact lenses, and drops
Because the clinic offers myopia control glasses, myopia control contact lenses, orthokeratology, and low-dose atropine eye drops, your optometrist can outline all suitable options in one place.
Factors To Consider
When choosing a myopia control plan, it helps to think about:
- Age and maturity – how ready your child is to handle contact lenses or drops
- Prescription level and speed of change – which options give enough control
- Sport and hobbies – how often your child swims, plays contact sport, or needs protective eyewear
- Comfort with treatments – your child’s feelings about glasses, lenses, or eye drops
- Family history and risk level – whether parents or siblings have high myopia
Your optometrist will guide you through these points and recommend one or two leading options, rather than leaving you to decide alone.
What To Discuss With Your Optometrist
Many parents find it helpful to bring a list of questions. You might like to ask:
- Which myopia control option do you recommend for my child, and why?
- How much change do you expect to see over the next few years with this plan?
- How often will we need to come in, and what will those visits involve?
- What are the costs over a year, including check-ups and products?
- What should we do if my child struggles with lenses, glasses, or drops?
You can also ask for written information about your child’s myopia control plan to share with caregivers and teachers.
Give Your Child Clearer Sight For The Future
Myopia control options give families practical tools to slow prescription changes and protect long-term eye health. With the right combination of glasses, contact lenses, atropine eye drops, and healthy habits, children can see well for school, sport, and everyday life while their eyes grow.
A personalised plan from a trusted local optometrist makes the process easier to follow and more reassuring for everyone. The team at Bayside Eyecare in Brighton will explain each treatment and talk you through your child’s routine. The goal is to create a myopia control roadmap that fits your family.
Book a Myopia Control Planning Appointment Today to explore the best child myopia treatment options for your family. You can book an appointment with Bayside Eyecare online or call (03) 9909 5329 to speak with the team about the next available myopia control consultation.
Myopia Control Options FAQs
At What Age Should My Child Start Myopia Control?
Myopia control usually starts as soon as myopia is diagnosed and confirmed as real, rather than a temporary focus change. Many children begin treatment between 6 and 12 years of age. If your child’s prescription is rising quickly or there is a strong family history, earlier intervention can be especially helpful.
Are Myopia Control Glasses Better Than Contact Lenses?
Both myopia control glasses and myopia control contact lenses can work well. Glasses suit younger children and families who prefer a simple routine. Contact lenses, including Ortho-K, often suit active kids who want clear vision for sport and everyday movement. The best choice depends on age, lifestyle, prescription, and comfort with handling lenses.
What Are The Side Effects Of Atropine Eye Drops?
Low-dose atropine eye drops for myopia are usually well tolerated. Some children notice slightly larger pupils, mild light sensitivity, or a small amount of blur for very close work. These effects are often manageable with sunglasses outdoors and good lighting for reading. Your optometrist will monitor for side effects and adjust the dose if needed.
How Often Will My Child Need Check-Ups During Myopia Control?
Most children in myopia control programs have review visits every 4 to 6 months. Some options, especially new contact lens fits or Ortho-K, need more frequent visits in the early stages. These check-ups track prescription changes, eye health, and how well your child is using their glasses, lenses, or drops at home and at school.
Can Myopia Be Fully Reversed With Treatment?
Myopia control does not reverse myopia. The aim is to slow further prescription change and lower long-term risk to eye health. Ortho-K lenses can give clear vision through the day by reshaping the front of the eye overnight, although the underlying myopia returns if treatment stops. Early, consistent management helps keep myopia at a safer level.