Parents often notice the telltale squint at school or the sudden move to the front row—then the prescription keeps climbing. That’s where smart diagnostics and targeted treatment matter.
At Shaughnessy Optometry in Vancouver, we offer comprehensive eye exams and a complete myopia management program that guides children through testing, monitoring, and treatment choices that fit real life.
What Myopia Means for Your Child
Myopia (nearsightedness) makes distant objects look blurry. Glasses or standard contacts can clear vision, but they don’t slow eye growth—the driver of progression. Higher myopia raises lifetime risks for conditions like childhood glaucoma and cataracts. That’s why early, structured myopia care matters, especially for school-age children with a family history of myopia.
Common signs of childhood myopia:
- Blurry distance vision, squinting, eye rubbing
- Headaches after reading or screen time
- Sitting close to TVs or holding books very near
- Prescription increases every 6–12 months
How We Assess and Track Myopia at Shaughnessy Optometry
We use a set of complementary tests to understand your child’s baseline and rate of change. These tools help us select the proper treatment and fine-tune it over time.
- Axial Length Measurement: This painless scan measures the length of the eye in millimetres. Because myopia progression is driven by eye growth, axial elongation is one of the most important numbers we track.
- Corneal Topography: A detailed map of the cornea (the eye’s front surface) helps us select and verify lens designs. For myopia-control soft lenses and spectacle lenses, topography confirms fit and optical zones that support peripheral defocus strategies.
- Retinal Imaging and Optic Nerve Checks: High-resolution imaging lets us document retinal health and screen for early changes associated with high myopia risk. We pair this with optic nerve evaluation to keep an eye on glaucoma risk factors over time.
- Refraction and Binocular Vision Testing: We confirm the prescription and assess how the eyes team up at near distances. Convergence or focusing imbalances can contribute to fatigue; addressing them supports comfort with schoolwork and any myopia-control lenses.
- Lifestyle and Risk Profile: We discuss outdoor time, near-work habits, and device use. More outdoor daylight and smart breaks during reading have measurable benefits. We give clear, doable guidelines that your child can follow at school and at home.
Treatment Plans for Myopia
Once we have baseline testing, we discuss tailored treatment options. At Shaughnessy Optometry, we offer several proven methods that help slow progression.
MiSight® Contact Lenses
MiSight® lenses are daily disposable soft contact lenses that provide clear vision and a treatment effect at the same time. These lenses create a unique optical profile that reduces eye growth, supported by multiple clinical trials.
MiyoSmart Spectacle Lenses
Miyosmart lenses are made for specialty glasses that use DIMS (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) technology to slow myopia progression in children. Parents like these for younger children who are not yet comfortable with contact lenses.
Atropine Eye Drops
Low-dose atropine drops can reduce eye growth signals. Safe and effective, they’re often used alongside other treatments.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Orthokeratology custom-fitted lenses are worn overnight to reshape the cornea to provide clear daytime vision without glasses or daytime contacts, while slowing myopia progression.
Lifestyle Guidance
No treatment is complete without behaviour changes. More time outdoors and scheduled breaks from screen work are simple, evidence-backed steps that support lasting results.
Myopia Control in Vancouver, BC: Support Long-Term Eye Health
Myopia management at Shaughnessy Optometry is about more than glasses and contact lenses—it’s about protecting your child’s vision for the future. By combining advanced diagnostic tools with proven treatment options, we help reduce lifetime risks and maintain clear, comfortable sight.
If your child has shown signs of progressive myopia, book your eye care appointment in Vancouver to begin a structured plan that fits your family.