03
Signs Parents Notice
05
Assessment Process
06
Management Options
Chapter 1 of 8
What Is Myopia?
07
Monitoring Process
08
Next Steps
Myopia or shortsightedness, is a common vision condition where children can see nearby objects clearly, but distance objects appear blurred.
​
It often develops during childhood and can progress as the eyes grow.
Children's Myopia
Management Guide
04
Understand Eye Growth
Many children with myopia do not realise their distance vision has become blurry because the change often happens gradually.
What Does a Child with Myopia See?
What Every Parent Should Know About Myopia
1
Myopia is becoming more
common
Many children develop myopia during their school years.
2
It often increases as children grow
Without monitoring, the prescription may continue to increase over time.
3
Glasses correct blurred vision
Standard single vision spectacles provide clear vision but are not designed specifically to slow myopia progression.
4
Early care makes a difference
Regular comprehensive eye examinations allow changes to be detected early and appropriate management to begin.
Why Understanding Myopia Matters
Understanding myopia is the first step towards protecting your child's vision for the future.
Helping children see clearly today, Protecting their vision for tomorrow.
03
Signs Parents Notice
05
Assessment Process
06
Management Options
Chapter 2 of 8
07
Monitoring Process
08
Next Steps
Children's Myopia
Management Guide
04
Understand Eye Growth
Why Does Myopia
Develop?
Myopia develops from a combination of genetic and environmental factors that influence how the eye grows over time.
Factors Associated With Myopia
What Happens as Myopia Develops?
The eye may gradually grow longer from front to back. As the eye becomes longer, light focuses in front of retina instead of directly on it.
Why This Matters?
High myopia increases the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, such as myopic maculopathy, retinal detachment, cataract and glaucoma.
​
That is why early detection and appropriate myopia management are so important for protecting your child's long term eye health.
What Happens Inside The Eye?
03
Signs Parents Notice
05
Assessment Process
06
Management Options
Chapter 3 of 8
07
Monitoring Process
08
Next Steps
Children's Myopia
Management Guide
04
Understand Eye Growth
Signs Parents
May Notice
Children often do not recognise or communicate changes in their vision.
​
Occasionally, subtle shifts in their everyday behaviour can be the initial indicators that parents observe.
​
Common Signs To Look Out For
Especially when looking at something far away.
Holding books or objects unusually close to the face.
Sitting very close to the TV or leaning forward often.
Particularly after reading or prolonged visual task.
Complaining of headaches, eye strain or discomfort.
Difficulty staying engaged during visually demanding activities.
Closing or covering on eye, or tilting the head to see more clearly.
Difficuty seeing distant objects clearly.
A Sign Is A Clue, Not A Diagnosis.
Children may show similar behaviours for a variety of reasons.
​
Some of these may be related to refractive errors, while others could be linked to focusing, eye coordination, visual comfort, or even factors unrelated to vision.
​
Whats parents notice is valuable, but an eye examination helps determine the cause.
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Children do not always know what clear vision should look like.
A child may adapt by moving closer, squinting or changing the way they perform a task rather than saying.
"I can't see clearly."
​
That is why changes in everyday behaviour are worth paying attention to.
03
Signs Parents Notice
05
Assessment Process
06
Management Options
Chapter 4 of 8
07
Monitoring Process
08
Next Steps
Children's Myopia
Management Guide
04
Understand Eye Growth
Understanding
Your Child's
Eye Growth
Myopia is more than a change in spectacle prescription.
​
As children grow, their eyes grow too. In many children with myopia, the eye becomes longer from front to back,
causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it.
​
Understanding and monitoring this growth can help us see how a child's myopia is changing over time.​​​​
What Is Axial Length?
Axial length refers to the distance from the front of the eye to the retina located at the back of the eye.​​​​
​
It is measured in millimetres (mm).
​
Some increase in axial length is normal as a child grows.
​
However, if the eye grows longer than anticipated, light may focus in front of the retina, which can lead to myopia.
Think of axial length as a measurement of how long the eye is.
Track eye growth, not only spectacle prescription.
When it comes to myopia, we look at two important numbers.
​
Each tell us something different about your child's eyes.
Two Different Ways Of
Looking At Myopia
SPECTACLE PRESCRIPTION
Tells us the optical correction needed for clear vision.
-
Measured in diopters (D)
-
Tell us how strong the lenses need to be
-
Helps your child see clearly today
Right (OD)
​
Left (OS)
-3.00D
​
-2.75D
Example
Spectacle prescription can vary between measurement.
It tell us how much optical correction is needed for clear vision, not how long the eye is.
AXIAL LENGTH
Tells us about the physical length and growth of the eye.
-
Measured in millimetres (mm)
-
Indicates how long the eye is
-
Helps us understand myopia progression risk
Right (OD)
​
Left (OS)
24.02 mm
​
23.78 mm
Example
Axial length usually gets longer as the eye grows.
Longer eyes are more likely to develop or progress myopia.
Both numbers are important, but they tell us different stories.
Prescription tell us how your child sees today.
Axial length helps us understand how your child's eyes are growing over time.
As a general guide
1 mm of axial elongation may correspond to approximately
-2.5 to -3.0 D
of myopic change.*
* This is an approximate relationship
and varies between individuals.
Why We Track Eye Growth Over Time
The trend matters.
Small changes over time can be more meaningful than looking at one measurement alone.
A single axial length measurement gives us a starting point.
What matters most is how your child's eye growth changes over time.
FIRST VISIT
​
24.02 mm
Date: 8 Aug 2026
6 MONTHS LATER
​
24.10 mm
Date: 8 Feb 2027
12 MONTHS LATER
​
24.14 mm
Date: 8 Aug 2027
+0.08 mm
in 6 months
+0.04 mm
in 6 months
A child's axial length is influenced by factors such as age, refractive status, and individual eye-growth pattern.
​
​This is why we interpret measurements in context,
rather than judging myopia progression from one number alone.
​
Consistency makes a differences.​
Regular follow-ups help us build a clearer picture of your child's individual eye-growth pattern.
Myopia Management
Understanding Myopia. Protecting Vision for the Future.
Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is becoming increasingly common among children worldwide. It is estimated that nearly one in two people will be affected by myopia by 2050.
​
Myopia can be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Children with one or both parents who are myopic have a higher likelihood of developing myopia, while prolonged near work and limited time spent outdoors may also contribute to its development.
​
While single vision lens glasses can correct blurred vision, myopia management lens aims to slow the progression of myopia during childhood, helping to support long-term eye health.
​
At Sealite Kinta Optical, we provide comprehensive children's eye examinations and personalised myopia management plans based on each child's individual vision needs.
What is Myopia?
Myopia (short-sightedness) is a common vision condition in which nearby objects are seen clearly, while distant objects appear blurred.
​
In most children, myopia develops because the eye grows longer than normal (known as an increase in axial length). As the eye elongates, light focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it, causing distant objects to appear out of focus.
​
As the eye continues to grow during childhood, myopia often progresses and the spectacle prescription becomes stronger. Even a 1 mm increase in axial length is equivalent to approximately 3.00 dioptres (D) of myopia, highlighting the importance of monitoring eye growth over time.
Why Manage Myopia?
Myopia management is about more than correcting blurred vision. As myopia progresses and the eye continues to elongate, the lifetime risk of certain eye conditions may increase.
​
Eye conditions associated with high myopia include:
-
Glaucoma
-
Cataracts
-
Retinal detachment
-
Myopic macular degeneration
Early assessment and evidence-based myopia management aim to help slow myopia progression during childhood and support long-term eye health.
Could Your Child Be Developing Myopia?
Children often do not realise their vision is changing because they gradually adapt to blurred distance vision.
Common signs include:
​
-
Squinting to see distant objects, the television, or the whiteboard
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Sitting very close to the television, computer, or digital devices
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Holding books or tablets close to the eyes
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Difficulty seeing the whiteboard at school
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Preferring to sit at the front of the classroom
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Complaining of blurred distance vision
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Frequent prescription changes
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Reduced interest in sports or outdoor activities requiring clear distance vision
If you notice any of these signs, a comprehensive children's eye examination can help determine whether myopia may be affecting your child's vision.
Our Approach to Myopia Management
Effective myopia management begins with a comprehensive eye examination.
​
Our optometrists assess your child's vision, eye health, prescription, visual habits, lifestyle, and risk factors before recommending a personalised management plan.
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Unlike conventional single-vision lenses, which correct blurred vision but are not designed to slow myopia progression, modern myopia management spectacle lenses provide clear everyday vision while incorporating optical technologies intended to help manage myopia progression.
​
Regular follow-up examinations allow us to monitor your child's vision and eye growth, ensuring the management plan continues to meet their needs as they grow.
Myopia Management Solutions
Following a comprehensive eye examination, our optometrists recommend the most appropriate myopia management solution based on your child's prescription, age, eye health, lifestyle, and individual visual needs.
​
We offer evidence-based myopia management spectacle lenses from leading manufacturers, including:
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Essilor Stellest®
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ZEISS MyoCare®