Myopia Control for Children in Chicago, IL
Is your child’s nearsightedness getting worse every year? At Ideal Family Eye Care, we specialize in myopia control for children and teenagers — offering proven, effective solutions to slow the progression of myopia and protect your child’s long-term vision health. Don’t wait until their prescription stabilizes on its own. Early intervention makes all the difference.
request an appointmentWhat Is Myopia and Why Is It So Common in Children?
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is one of the most common vision conditions affecting children today — and it’s becoming increasingly prevalent. Approximately one-third of adult Americans have myopia, and studies suggest that around 65% of children now require some form of vision correction. Myopia occurs when the eyeball grows too long relative to the focusing power of the cornea and lens, causing distant objects to appear blurry while close-up objects remain clear.
While genetics plays a role in whether a child will develop myopia, research strongly suggests that increased screen time, prolonged near-work activities, and reduced outdoor time are major contributors to the rising rates of childhood myopia. If left unmanaged, myopia can continue to worsen throughout childhood and adolescence, increasing the risk of serious eye conditions such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration later in life.
Why Myopia Control Matters
Simply prescribing glasses or standard contact lenses to a myopic child corrects their vision but does nothing to slow the progression of the condition. Myopia control goes further — it uses clinically proven interventions to actively slow the rate at which the eye grows, reducing the degree of nearsightedness your child develops over time. At Ideal Family Eye Care, we offer Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) as our primary myopia control solution, which has shown outstanding results in slowing myopia progression in children and teens.
Ortho-K: Our Most Effective Myopia Control Solution
Orthokeratology — or Ortho-K — is an FDA-approved, non-surgical therapy in which children wear specially designed rigid contact lenses overnight while they sleep. The lenses gently and temporarily reshape the cornea so that when they wake up and remove the lenses each morning, they enjoy clear, natural vision throughout the entire day — no glasses or daytime contacts required.
Beyond providing daytime vision correction, Ortho-K has been shown in multiple clinical studies to significantly slow the progression of myopia. Research indicates that children who wore Ortho-K lenses consistently for 10 years experienced an average myopia progression of less than 0.5 diopter — a remarkable finding that gives parents real hope for protecting their child’s long-term vision.
Myopia Control Tips for Parents
In addition to professional treatment at Ideal Family Eye Care, there are everyday steps parents can take to help manage their child’s myopia:
- Limit screen time: Set daily limits on combined screen use, including smartphones, tablets, computers, and TV.
- Encourage outdoor activity: Research suggests that spending time outdoors in natural light can help slow myopia development in children.
- Practice the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes of near work, have your child look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- Schedule regular pediatric eye exams: Annual exams allow our doctors to monitor your child’s myopia progression and adjust treatment as needed.
To learn more about myopia control options for your child, call Ideal Family Eye Care today at (773) 774-2200 or schedule a consultation online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Myopia Control in Children
What is myopia control and why is it important for children?
Myopia control refers to treatments that actively slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. Without intervention, myopia can worsen significantly throughout childhood, increasing the risk of serious eye health problems later in life, including retinal detachment and glaucoma. Early myopia control helps limit how severe the condition becomes.
At what age can children start myopia control treatment?
Myopia control can typically begin as soon as a child is diagnosed with myopia that is progressing. In many cases, treatment can start as early as age 6 or 7. Our providers at Ideal Family Eye Care will evaluate your child’s specific situation and recommend the most appropriate time to begin treatment.
What myopia control options does Ideal Family Eye Care offer?
At Ideal Family Eye Care, our primary myopia control solution is Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) — custom overnight contact lenses that gently reshape the cornea to slow myopia progression and provide daytime vision correction without glasses or contacts.
Is Ortho-K safe for my child?
Yes. Ortho-K is safe, FDA-approved, and has been used successfully in children for many years. The lenses are worn only while sleeping, minimizing the risks associated with daytime contact lens wear. Our providers closely monitor your child’s progress throughout treatment to ensure the best and safest outcome.
Will my child’s myopia get worse if we don’t treat it?
Without active myopia control, myopia often continues to worsen throughout childhood and adolescence. The higher the degree of myopia, the greater the risk of developing serious complications later in life. Proactive treatment with Ortho-K or other myopia control methods can significantly reduce this risk.
How do I know if my child has myopia?
Common signs of myopia in children include squinting to see the board at school, sitting close to the TV, frequent headaches, and complaints of blurry vision at a distance. A pediatric eye exam at Ideal Family Eye Care is the best way to diagnose myopia and determine the right treatment plan for your child.
How do I schedule a myopia control consultation for my child?
Call Ideal Family Eye Care at (773) 774-2200 or book online to schedule a pediatric vision exam and myopia control consultation. Our team is dedicated to helping your child achieve the best possible vision health now and for years to come.