Is Your Child’s Prescription Getting Stronger? When to Consider Myopia Control

If your child needs a stronger glasses prescription every year, it may be more than a routine vision change. Increasing nearsightedness, or myopia, can continue to progress throughout childhood as the eyes grow. At Dr. Steven Lutz & Associates, we provide myopia control to help children see clearly while also addressing the progression of their nearsightedness.

What Does a Stronger Prescription Mean?

Myopia causes distant objects to appear blurry while closer objects remain clearer. In children, nearsightedness can worsen as the eye grows longer. A stronger prescription may be needed to restore clear distance vision, but standard glasses or contact lenses primarily correct the blur rather than addressing why the prescription continues to change.

Myopia control takes a different approach. Instead of simply updating a child's prescription, treatment is designed to slow myopia progression and help limit how quickly nearsightedness worsens.

Signs Your Child’s Myopia May Be Progressing

Children do not always recognize that their vision has changed. Parents may notice changes in everyday habits before their child mentions blurry vision. Signs that may indicate progressing myopia include:

• Needing stronger glasses or contact lenses at frequent eye exams
• Squinting to see the board or other distant objects
• Moving closer to the television or screen
• Difficulty recognizing people or objects from a distance
• Complaints of blurry distance vision
• Changes in school, sports, or other activities that require clear distance vision

Regular pediatric eye exams allow us to track these changes and determine whether myopia management should be considered.

When Should Parents Consider Myopia Control?

Myopia control is worth discussing when a child has been diagnosed with nearsightedness, especially if their prescription continues to increase. Starting management earlier may provide more opportunity to slow progression while the eyes are still developing.

During a myopia evaluation in Ann Arbor, we consider your child's age, current prescription, previous prescription changes, eye health, and daily activities. This helps us determine whether active myopia management is appropriate and which treatment may fit their needs.

Myopia Control Options for Children

At our office, we offer several approaches to myopia management, MiSight, Ortho-K lenses, CRT lenses, atropine eye drops and Stellest lenses for eyeglasses.

MiSight 1 day contact lenses provide clear vision while helping slow myopia progression. Ortho-K lenses are worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea, allowing many children to see clearly during the day without glasses or contacts.

We may also recommend low-dose atropine eye drops, soft multifocal contact lenses, or Stellest lenses. Stellest lenses look similar to traditional eyeglasses but use specialized lens technology designed to correct vision while managing myopia progression.

The best option is not the same for every child, which is why a comprehensive evaluation is important before beginning treatment.

Keep Up with Changes in Your Child’s Vision

If your child's prescription keeps getting stronger, another pair of glasses may not be the only step to consider. Monitoring myopia progression allows us to determine whether treatment could help protect your child's vision as they grow.

Schedule a myopia evaluation with our office to learn which myopia control option may be right for your child. Contact us by calling (734) 769-2909 to book an appointment today.