Helping your child see clearly—today and into the future.

Myopia, or short-sightedness, means your child can see things up close clearly, but things in the distance — like the whiteboard at school, sports fields, or road signs — look blurry.

You may remember wearing glasses as a child or teen — but what we know today has changed. Myopia isn’t just about needing stronger glasses every year. It’s about protecting your child’s long-term eye health and taking action early to slow its progression.

While glasses or contact lenses can correct the blur, they don’t address the underlying issue: the eye continues to grow too long, increasing the risk of serious eye diseases later in life—such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and early cataracts. 

Why Myopia Matters

Myopia happens when the eye grows too long, or the front of the eye (the cornea) is too curved. This causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it.

Myopia is becoming more common, and it's starting earlier. The earlier it begins, the higher the likelihood it will progress to more severe levels. That’s why early detection and intervention are key.

Corrective glasses or contact lenses can make vision sharp again — but they don’t stop the eye from continuing to grow. The more the eye grows, the higher the level of myopia, and the greater the risk of sight-threatening conditions later in life such as:

• Retinal detachment
• Myopic macular degeneration
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma

A lower final prescription is also beneficial as it means thinner lenses, less blur when you don't have your glasses on and more options for refractive surgery as an adult. 

That’s why the focus of modern eye care is not just correcting blurred vision — but slowing down myopia progression.

Why Myopia is Becoming So Common?

By 2050, it’s predicted that half the world’s population will be myopic. The rise comes down to a mix of genetics, environment and lifestyle factors:

• Family history – If one parent is myopic, the child’s risk doubles. If both parents are myopic, the risk triples.

• Near work – Prolonged near activities like reading, writing, and screen use can place stress on developing eyes.

• Screen Time & Digital Devices – Extended use may contribute to earlier onset and faster progression.

• Indoor Lifestyles – Less time outdoors is linked with higher rates of myopia. Research shows children who spend less time outside are more likely to develop myopia. Natural daylight and focusing on distant objects outdoors play a protective role.

When Should Your Child Have an Eye Exam? 

If you're concerned you we'd always recommend you make a time to see us. Children grow quickly and so can their eyes. At Illume Eye Care, we generally recommend:

• First eye check between ages 2–3
• Another before starting school
• Then every two years, or more frequently if advised

If your child has myopia or signs of pre-myopia, our optometry team may recommend we review your childs eyes every three to six months

What if My Child Already Has Myopia?

That’s where Myopia Management comes in. Unlike standard glasses or contacts that only correct blur, these treatments aim to slow or even halt myopia progression, reducing the risk of high myopia and future eye disease. Myopia Management has been the standard of care for many years and our optometrists have over decades of experience.

Evidence-Based Myopia Management Options

The good news: we now have proven, evidence-based ways to slow down myopia in children.

At Illume, our optometrists have been managing children’s myopia for over 20 years (and we’re parents too), so we know how to tailor a plan that fits your child’s vision, lifestyle, and family needs.

Myopia Control Glasses

Unlike standard glasses, specially designed myopia control lenses use innovative optics to reduce the signal for the eye to keep growing. These lenses provide clear central vision while also sending a gentle signal to slow down progression.

• Essilor® Stellest™ lenses – Clear central vision plus a “constellation” of tiny lenslets that signal the eye to slow down growth. Studies show Stellest™ lenses can slow myopia progression by up to 67% when worn 12+ hours a day.

• Hoya MiyoSmart® lenses – Award-winning Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) technology, proven to reduce myopia progression by an average of 60% in long-term studies. Available in photochromatic and sunglass options.

• Zeiss MyoCare® lenses – The latest generation of myopia control glasses, designed with age-specific lenslets to provide clear vision and reliable myopia management tailored to children’s needs, shown to reduce refractive progression on average of 63%.

We offer a range of lens designs because every child is unique. These options are comfortable, safe, and an easy first step for many families beginning their child’s myopia management journey. If myopia spectacles are a preferred option we will give you advice on where you might like to buy frames that suit your childs style and lifestyle.  

Soft Myopia Management Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are often an excellent choice for children, not only for managing myopia but also for supporting confidence and everyday convenience.

Why contact lenses are great for kids:

• No frames to worry about – Perfect for active children who play sport or find glasses uncomfortable.
• Improved peripheral vision – Glasses only correct the area in front of the lens, but contacts move with the eye, giving clear vision all around.
• Boosts confidence – Many children feel more comfortable socially without glasses, especially in sport, dance, or performing arts.
• Safe and manageable – Studies show that children can successfully wear and care for contact lenses with proper guidance.
• Supports responsibility – Learning contact lens care helps build independence.

Myopia Control Contact Lens Options

• MiSight® 1 day (CooperVision) – The world’s first FDA-approved daily disposable lens for myopia control, proven in 7-year clinical studies to slow progression by about 59%. Daily disposables mean fresh, clean lenses every day — with no need for solutions or cleaning.

• ACUVUE® Abiliti™ soft lenses (Johnson & Johnson) – A new generation daily disposable lens designed specifically for children, providing clear vision while helping to slow eye growth.

• Other daily options – As research advances, more designs are emerging, giving families flexibility to choose the lens that best fits their child’s needs and lifestyle.

At Illume, we carefully guide families and children through the process of trying contact lenses, ensuring a safe, positive experience with full training and ongoing support.

Overnight Lenses (Ortho-K)

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses are specially designed contact lenses that your child wears only at night while sleeping. They gently reshape the front surface of the eye (the cornea) so that during the day, your child enjoys clear vision without glasses or contact lenses.

Why Ortho-K is great for kids and teens

• Freedom during the day – No glasses or contacts needed for school, sport, or play.
• Excellent for active kids – Ideal for swimmers, dancers, and children who play contact sports.
• Proven myopia control – Ortho-K has a long estabilished evidence base for myopia management and has been shown in numerous clinical studies to slow eye growth by around 50%.
• Boosts confidence – Kids can enjoy clear vision without worrying about glasses on the sports field or in social situations.
• Reversible – If your child stops wearing Ortho-K lenses, their eyes gradually return to their original shape and prescription.
• Safe and effective – With proper fitting and ongoing care, Ortho-K has a strong track record of safety in children.

Ortho-K can be an excellent option for families wanting both clear daytime vision and reliable myopia control. At Illume, we use corneal topography mapping to customise each Ortho-K lens to your child’s unique eye shape, ensuring the best results and ongoing comfort. You can read more about OrthoK at Illume here.

Atropine Therapy

Low-dose prescription atropine eye drops can be used at night to help slow the progression of myopia in children.

• These drops work by influencing the biochemical signals that drive eye growth.
• Low concentrations (such as 0.01–0.05%) have been shown to reduce progression with minimal side effects.
• Atropine is often combined with other treatments (glasses, contact lenses, or lifestyle changes) for best results.

Eyerising® Myopia Management Device

The Eyerising® device uses Repeated Low-Level Red Light (RLRL) therapy, one of the newer technology with very promising results in slowing eye growth and myopia progression.

• Children look into the device for just a few minutes, twice a day.
• Clinical studies suggest RLRL can reduce axial elongation (eye growth).
• Non-invasive and easy to use at home — but requires consistent daily sessions.

At Illume, we follow developments in this area closely and may recommend RLRL therapy as part of a tailored plan for the right child.

Lifestyle Guidance

Treatment isn’t just about lenses or drops — lifestyle plays a powerful role:

• Outdoor time – Aim for at least 90–120 minutes a day outside.
• Visual breaks – Use the “20-20-20 rule”: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Good reading distances – When reading or using an iPad, try and not hold things closer than the length of their forearm.
• Good lighting – Ensure bright lighting for reading and study.
• Limit recreational screen time where possible - ideally keep it to two hours max a day
• Promote a balanced diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3

Our Approach at Illume Eye Care

Myopia management is not one-size-fits-all. That’s why we use advanced diagnostic tools such as:

• Axial length measurement – to track eye growth, the most reliable way to monitor progression.
• Corneal topography – to guide contact lens and Ortho-K lens fitting.
• Retinal imaging – to keep an eye on eye health over time.
• Customised reporting – to show you how things are changing and the impact of treatment strategies.

From here, we design a personalised plan that may combine glasses, contacts, atropine, red light therapy, and lifestyle strategies — all with regular follow-ups to measure effectiveness.

Our focus is not just on clear vision today, but on protecting your child’s vision for decades to come.

Which Option is Right for My Child?

Every child is unique — their vision, lifestyle, and even their personality all play a role in choosing the best myopia management strategy. That’s why at Illume, we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach.

• Glasses are often the simplest starting point, especially for younger children or those new to myopia management.
• Soft contact lenses are great for active kids who want convenience and confidence, and they’re safe for even young children with proper training.
• Ortho-K (overnight lenses) are ideal for children who want to be free of glasses or lenses during the day — particularly swimmers, athletes, and teens. Great as they're only used while at home, like using a retainer overnight. 
• Atropine therapy can be a good option for families who prefer drops, or in combination with other treatments for stronger effect.
• Red light therapy (Eyerising® device) may suit children who enjoy structured routines and can commit to daily sessions at home.

No matter which treatment is chosen, the key is regular follow-up and measurement. At Illume, we track your child’s eye growth with axial length scans and customised reports so you can see the impact of treatment and feel confident about decisions along the way.

Our goal is to find the best combination of treatments to give your child clear vision today — and protect their eye health for the future.

Why Choose Illume Eye Care?

At Illume our clinic is lead by optometrists with decades of experience in myopia mangement. They also parents.

We have a lot of management options because we take a proactive, unbiased, personalised approach. With advanced diagnostic tools and a wide range of myopia management solutions, we’re here to help your child maintain clear vision—and healthy eyes for life.

If your child is squinting to see the board, sitting closer to the TV, holding books close, or if myopia runs in your family — now is the time to book an assessment.

Book an appointment at Illume Eye Care and learn how we can support your child with a tailored myopia management plan.