Correcting myopia is important for maintaining clear distance vision. However, treatments are now available in spectacle lenses, contact lenses and drops that slow down the rate of progression of myopia. Myopia is associated with diseases such as myopic macular degeneration, retinal detachment and open angle glaucoma. The higher the myopia, the greater the risk of developing these conditions. For example, compared to someone who has no prescription, if you have low myopia, you are around 2 times more likely to have myopic macular degeneration and glaucoma and 3 times more likely to have a retinal detachment. If you have high myopia, you are around 41 times more likely to have myopic macular degeneration, 3 times more likely to have glaucoma and 9 times more likely to have a retinal detachment. But if we slow down myopia by just 1 unit we could reduce the likelihood of a patient developing myopic maculopathy by 40%, irrespective of the severity of myopia. This is why eye-care professionals are keen to catch myopia early and deliver myopia management treatments designed to slow down myopia so that children do not become as myopic as they would if treatments were not applied. There are now technologies that allow your eye-care professional to slow down myopia with specialised spectacle lenses and contact lenses. Drops may also be offered in combination with these treatments. Any child with increasing myopia should therefore consider myopia management treatments. Book your myopia consultation today.