If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you may wonder whether your child will also need them. While genetics certainly plays a role in vision, there are other factors that can influence whether your child develops vision problems like nearsightedness (also known as myopia). Understanding these factors can help you take proactive measures to protect their eye health. 

The role of genetics in vision 

There is a greater chance that your child will need glasses if you or your partner need them. If one parent is nearsighted, the risk of nearsightedness in children triples.¹ If both parents are nearsighted, the risk increases sixfold.¹ However, genetics alone does not determine whether a child will need glasses. Environmental factors also play a significant role. 

Environmental factors also impact vision 

Our modern lifestyles can significantly impact vision. With more screen time and less time spent outdoors, children today are at a higher risk of developing myopia. Encouraging your child to spend more time outside and take regular breaks from screens can help protect their eyesight. 

Signs your child may need glasses 

Even if both parents have perfect vision, your child may still develop a vision problem. Here are some signs they may not be able to see clearly: 

• Squinting or tilting their head when looking at something 
• Frequent eye rubbing 
• Complaints of blurry vision or headaches 
• Holding books or screens too close 
• Difficulty seeing the board at school 

If your child shows any of these symptoms, it’s essential to schedule an appointment with our pediatric optometrist in Keene, NH.  

Can you prevent or slow vision changes? 

While you can’t change genetics, you can help slow myopia progression in children through myopia management strategies. For example, at New England EyeWorks, we offer MiSight® 1 day contact lenses as a part of our myopia management services in Keene, New Hampshire. Regular contact lenses and glasses will make their vision clear, but they won’t stop their prescription from worsening over the years. If left unmanaged, myopia can increase your child’s risk of developing severe eye conditions later in life. 

MiSight® contact lenses are specially designed for kids and not only correct vision but also slow the progression of nearsightedness. They are the first and only soft contact lenses FDA-approved to slow myopia progression in children ages 8-12 at the start of treatment. Over three years, MiSight® 1 day lenses reduced myopia progression in this age group by 59%.   

Schedule an appointment today 

The earlier myopia is diagnosed, the more effectively it can be managed. If your child is showing signs of vision problems or has a parent with vision correction needs, schedule an appointment at New England EyeWorks in Keene today. We’ll make sure your child’s eyes receive the best care! 

References 

1. Jones LA, Sinnott LT, Mutti DO, Mitchell GL, Moeschberger ML, Zadnik K. Parental history of myopia, sports and outdoor activities, and future myopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Aug;48(8):3524-32. (link)