Refractive errors: myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism
A refractive error exists when light entering the eye is not focused on the retina.
Read article ↗WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Childhood myopia tends to increase until the late teens, because the eye grows too long.
- At least 2 hours a day outdoors helps prevent it from starting.
- Low-dose atropine drops and special spectacle or contact lenses can slow progression.
In myopia, the eye is too long and the image forms in front of the retina: distant vision is poor. In children, the eye keeps growing and myopia increases, especially between 6 and 14. Slowing this increase matters not only to depend less on glasses: high myopia raises the risk, in adulthood, of retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma and cataract.
WHY DISTANCE VISION IS BLURRED
The myopic eye is longer
The more the eye grows, the higher the myopia.
1
Eye without myopia
Light is focused exactly on the retina.
2
Myopic eye
The eye is longer and the focus falls in front of the retina.
What parents can do
- Time outdoors: at least 2 hours a day. Daylight helps prevent myopia from starting.
- Breaks from close work: every 20 to 30 minutes of reading or screens, look into the distance for a few seconds.
- Keep books and screens at a reasonable distance, not too close to the face.
- Limit recreational screen time, especially for younger children.
Treatments to slow progression
- Low-concentration atropine drops, used at night.
- Spectacle lenses designed for myopia control.
- Specific contact lenses: specially designed daily lenses or orthokeratology, worn overnight.
No treatment makes myopia disappear, but all can reduce how fast it increases. The choice depends on age, prescription, how quickly it is progressing and the family’s preference, and requires regular check-ups, measuring the prescription and, ideally, the length of the eye.
Clinical sources
This information does not replace an individual medical assessment. Follow the advice of the team looking after you.
Clinical responsibility: Dr. Nuno Lopes · Ophthalmology
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