Top Risk Factors for Myopia: What Parents Should Watch For
Myopia (nearsightedness) is becoming more common in children than ever before, and many parents are caught off guard by how quickly their child’s prescription seems to increase. While glasses and contact lenses improve clarity, they don’t prevent the eye from continuing to elongate as the child grows. That eye growth increases the long-term risk of eye disease such as retinal detachment, cataracts, and other complications.
At Mountain View Optometry, we focus on identifying risk factors early to protect our young patient’s eye health throughout their lives. Here are the major contributors to myopia progression that parents should be aware of.
1. Family History: A Strong Predictor
If one or both parents are nearsighted, a child’s risk increases significantly. Genetics play a powerful role, but lifestyle and environment influence how those genes express themselves.
This is why we recommend that parents with a history of myopia bring children for comprehensive eye exams as early as possible. We recommend that children receive their first eye exam before one year of age, then annually thereafter.
2. Not Enough Time Outdoors
Outdoor time has been shown to protect against the development of myopia, as well as how quickly it progresses. While the reasons for this are not clear, it appears that outdoor activities promote a more natural focusing posture for the muscles of the eye.
We encourage families to aim for 90 minutes to 2 hours outdoors daily, especially for younger children. Be mindful of the need to protect against harmful UV rays – ensure your children wear protective sunglasses while outdoors.
3. Too Much Time on Digital Devices
Digital device use is on the rise for all age groups, especially our youngest patients. Extended periods of close-up focus on screens for gaming and entertainment has been shown to place visual stress on developing eyes.
Signs your child may be looking at digital devices too long:
- Holding items very close
- Long stretches without breaks
- Lack of interest in other activities
- Fatigue, headaches, or rubbing eyes
Be sure to regulate the amount of time your child spends indoors looking at digital devices. We advise families to follow the “20-20-20 rule” at home and school to give eyes frequent breaks: every 20 minutes, look at a distance of 20 feet or more, for 20 seconds.
4. Urban Living & Indoor Lifestyles
Children who spend more time indoors have a higher likelihood of developing myopia. Urban environments often encourage:
- More time on tablets, phones, and computers
- Fewer opportunities for outdoor activities
- Smaller indoor areas where children spend most of their day
While we can’t always change the environment, we can encourage proper balance. Increasing outdoor time, encouraging regular breaks from screens, and creating healthier visual habits can significantly reduce the impact of an indoor lifestyle on a child’s eye development.
5. Early Onset of Myopia
The earlier a child becomes myopic, the faster their condition tends to progress. If your child becomes nearsighted at 5, 6, or 7, years of age, they have many more years of potential progression ahead.
This makes early detection and proactive management essential.
6. High Academic & Screen Demands
Today’s children face more near-vision demands than any previous generation. Between classroom work, computers, and recreational screen use, their visual environment is more closed-in, placing stress on their visual system to adapt.
We guide families in building healthy visual habits that fit within busy school routines and modern tech use.
Our Approach to Protecting Your Child’s Vision
If your child is at higher risk for myopia, a proactive strategy can make a huge difference. Our team uses advanced diagnostic tools -including axial length measurement- to track eye growth and tailor a treatment plan.
Evidence-based myopia control options we offer include:
- Specialized myopia-control glasses
- Contact lenses designed to limit the progression of myopia
- Medicated eye drops to slow the growth of the eye
With the right approach, we can significantly slow progression and protect your child’s long-term vision. Book a myopia control assessment today.
Written by Dr. Tom Wilk
About the Author:
Dr. Tom Wilk sees patients at his Cochrane location primarily. He developed the “Patient First” approach now adopted by all Doctors and staff at Mountain View Optometry. He obtained his Doctor of Optometry (OD) from the Michigan College of Optometry in 1994, and his B.Sc. from the University of Waterloo. A native of Toronto, Ontario, he came to Alberta in 1998, attracted by the opportunity to start an optometry practice in the only province that allowed ODs to practice within the full scope of their training.
