Child's eye reflecting a cityscape, symbolizing protected future vision.

Myopia Control: New Guidelines to Protect Your Child's Vision

Q: What is myopia, and why should I be concerned about it for my child?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurry. It occurs when the eye elongates, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. Myopia is significant because, if it progresses rapidly, it can lead to high myopia, which increases the risk of severe eye diseases like maculopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Managing myopia early on is crucial to prevent these long-term eye health risks. Axial Elongation (AE) is a measurement of the change in the length of the eye. The faster the eye grows, the more likely the myopia is getting worse.

Q: What is orthokeratology (ortho-k), and how does it help with myopia?

Orthokeratology, often called ortho-k, is a method used to manage myopia, especially in children. It involves wearing specially designed rigid lenses overnight. These lenses reshape the cornea, the front surface of the eye, to temporarily reduce nearsightedness. Ortho-k is significant because it has shown promise in slowing down the progression of myopia. However, it is important to understand that ortho-k is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and careful evaluation is needed to determine who will benefit most.

Q: What does 'rate of axial elongation' mean, and why is it important in managing my child's myopia?

The rate of axial elongation (AE) refers to how quickly the eye is lengthening, which is a key factor in myopia progression. A rapid AE means the eye is growing quickly, leading to a faster increase in nearsightedness. The article categorizes AE into three patterns: rapid progression (AE of ≥0.20 mm in seven months), moderate progression (AE between 0.10 mm and <0.20 mm in seven months), and slow progression (AE of <0.10 mm in seven months). This rate is significant because it helps eye care professionals assess the risk of myopia progression and determine the best management approach, such as orthokeratology.

Q: What are these new guidelines, and how do they help in managing my child's myopia?

The new guidelines provide a framework for eye care professionals to assess a child's risk of myopia progression and determine if orthokeratology (ortho-k) is the right option. The guidelines consider factors like the child's age and rate of axial elongation (AE). These guidelines are important because they help personalize myopia management plans, ensuring that children receive the most appropriate and effective interventions to protect their long-term eye health. By using these guidelines, eye doctors can make more informed decisions about when and how to use ortho-k to slow down myopia progression.

Q: How does my child's age affect the progression of myopia?

Age is a significant factor in myopia progression. Younger children, especially those under nine, are more likely to experience rapid axial elongation (AE), meaning their nearsightedness can worsen more quickly. However, even older children can experience rapid progression, so regular monitoring is important. The guidelines emphasize that age should be considered when assessing the risk of myopia progression and determining the best course of action, such as orthokeratology. While this article only discussed Ortho-K as an option there are other methods for myopia control that an eye doctor might suggest, such as specialized glasses or eye drops.

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Expert recommendations help parents make informed decisions about managing myopia and preventing long-term eye health risks."

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common vision problem affecting millions of children worldwide. While easily corrected with glasses or contacts, in some children, myopia progresses rapidly, leading to high myopia, a condition that significantly increases the risk of severe eye diseases such as maculopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. This is why taking proactive steps to manage myopia early on is so important.

Orthokeratology (ortho-k) has emerged as a promising method for slowing down myopia progression in children. This involves wearing specially designed rigid lenses overnight to reshape the cornea and temporarily reduce nearsightedness. While studies have shown ortho-k's effectiveness, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Determining which children will benefit most requires careful evaluation.

Now, new research from Hong Kong provides evidence-based guidelines to help eye care professionals identify the best candidates for myopia control using ortho-k. These guidelines consider a child's age, rate of myopia progression, and other factors to ensure the benefits of ortho-k outweigh potential risks.

Is Your Child at Risk? Understanding Myopia Progression

Child's eye reflecting a cityscape, symbolizing protected future vision.

The study, published in Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, followed 66 myopic children (aged 6-16) who wore single-vision glasses for seven months before switching to ortho-k lenses for another seven months. Researchers tracked changes in axial elongation (AE), the lengthening of the eye that contributes to myopia progression.

The study identified three distinct patterns of axial elongation during the spectacle wear phase:

Rapid Progression: AE of ≥0.20 mm in seven months (equivalent to ≥1.00 D increase in myopia per year)
Moderate Progression: AE between 0.10 mm and <0.20 mm in seven months (equivalent to 0.50 D to <1.00 D increase in myopia per year)
Slow Progression: AE of <0.10 mm in seven months (equivalent to <0.50 D increase in myopia per year)

The study revealed that age plays a significant role: rapid progression was most common in children under nine. However, a notable percentage of older children (25% of those aged 9-13 and 12.5% of those aged 13-16) also experienced rapid progression. Importantly, all children with rapid AE during spectacle wear saw a significant reduction in eye elongation with ortho-k lens wear.

Making Informed Decisions: A Guide for Parents

These new guidelines offer a valuable framework for eye care professionals to assess a child's risk of myopia progression and determine if ortho-k is the right choice. If you're concerned about your child's vision, talk to your eye doctor about these recommendations. Early intervention and personalized management plans can make a significant difference in protecting your child's long-term eye health and quality of life.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.clae.2018.10.006, Alternate LINK

Title: Pre-Treatment Observation Of Axial Elongation For Evidence-Based Selection Of Children In Hong Kong For Myopia Control

Subject: Optometry

Journal: Contact Lens and Anterior Eye

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Sin-Wan Cheung, Maureen V. Boost, Pauline Cho

Published: 2019-08-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is myopia, and why should I be concerned about it for my child?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurry. It occurs when the eye elongates, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. Myopia is significant because, if it progresses rapidly, it can lead to high myopia, which increases the risk of severe eye diseases like maculopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Managing myopia early on is crucial to prevent these long-term eye health risks. Axial Elongation (AE) is a measurement of the change in the length of the eye. The faster the eye grows, the more likely the myopia is getting worse.

What is orthokeratology (ortho-k), and how does it help with myopia?

Orthokeratology, often called ortho-k, is a method used to manage myopia, especially in children. It involves wearing specially designed rigid lenses overnight. These lenses reshape the cornea, the front surface of the eye, to temporarily reduce nearsightedness. Ortho-k is significant because it has shown promise in slowing down the progression of myopia. However, it is important to understand that ortho-k is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and careful evaluation is needed to determine who will benefit most.

What does 'rate of axial elongation' mean, and why is it important in managing my child's myopia?

The rate of axial elongation (AE) refers to how quickly the eye is lengthening, which is a key factor in myopia progression. A rapid AE means the eye is growing quickly, leading to a faster increase in nearsightedness. The article categorizes AE into three patterns: rapid progression (AE of ≥0.20 mm in seven months), moderate progression (AE between 0.10 mm and <0.20 mm in seven months), and slow progression (AE of <0.10 mm in seven months). This rate is significant because it helps eye care professionals assess the risk of myopia progression and determine the best management approach, such as orthokeratology.

What are these new guidelines, and how do they help in managing my child's myopia?

The new guidelines provide a framework for eye care professionals to assess a child's risk of myopia progression and determine if orthokeratology (ortho-k) is the right option. The guidelines consider factors like the child's age and rate of axial elongation (AE). These guidelines are important because they help personalize myopia management plans, ensuring that children receive the most appropriate and effective interventions to protect their long-term eye health. By using these guidelines, eye doctors can make more informed decisions about when and how to use ortho-k to slow down myopia progression.

How does my child's age affect the progression of myopia?

Age is a significant factor in myopia progression. Younger children, especially those under nine, are more likely to experience rapid axial elongation (AE), meaning their nearsightedness can worsen more quickly. However, even older children can experience rapid progression, so regular monitoring is important. The guidelines emphasize that age should be considered when assessing the risk of myopia progression and determining the best course of action, such as orthokeratology. While this article only discussed Ortho-K as an option there are other methods for myopia control that an eye doctor might suggest, such as specialized glasses or eye drops.