How Does Myopia Change Through Life? What to Watch For
Myopia starts in childhood and progresses in the teenage years. Then laser becomes an option in your 20s, near vision is an advantage at 40, and cataract appears in older age. What should you watch for at each stage?
Myopia usually starts at school age. It increases until the eye stops growing, which is generally in your 20s. During this period, atropine drops, special myopia control lenses and time outdoors can slow progression, in addition to glasses. Once the prescription is stable, however, laser or an implantable lens (ICL) can be considered. In your 40s, people with myopia can often see up close without glasses. Later in life, a rising prescription may be a sign of cataract. Finally, people with high myopia should have regular retina check-ups.
Childhood: recognizing the signs of myopia
Myopia (blurred distance vision) usually appears at school age. Children often do not mention it themselves. Therefore, parents and teachers should watch for these signs:
- Difficulty seeing the board, squinting
- Sitting very close to the television
- Falling grades at school, poor concentration
- Headaches, rubbing the eyes
Myopia is increasing rapidly worldwide. According to estimates, about half of the world's population will have myopia by 2050, and about 10% will have high myopia.
“Myopia usually starts in childhood and can increase until your 20s. During this period, besides glasses, we can slow progression with atropine drops or special myopia control lenses.”
— Prof. Dr. Fırat Helvacıoğlu, from the video
How does myopia change through life, and what should you watch for?
Prof. Dr. Fırat Helvacıoğlu explains the lifelong vision journey of people with myopia and what to watch for at every age.
Slowing the progression of myopia
| Method | What do we know? |
|---|---|
| Low-dose atropine drops | In a large randomized study, 0.05%, 0.025% and 0.01% atropine drops slowed the increase in myopia in proportion to the dose. The 0.05% dose was the most effective over one year, and visual quality was not affected. |
| Spending time outdoors | Among 6-year-old children who did an extra 40 minutes of outdoor activity at school every day, new myopia developed in 30.4% over 3 years, compared with 39.5% in the control group. |
| Myopia control glasses lenses and contact lenses | They focus the image differently at the edge of the retina, which aims to slow the lengthening of the eye. The choice depends on the child's age and prescription. |
We decide which method is suitable by considering the child's age, prescription and rate of progression. Regular check-ups are also important, because they show how fast the prescription is increasing.
The lifelong journey of a person with myopia
Myopia starts in childhood, increases in the teenage years and stops in your 20s. It then gives an advantage for near vision in your 40s. In older age, a rising prescription is often a sign of cataract.
- The eye lengthens, the prescription increasesIn childhood, the prescription increases as the eye gets longer. Glasses, atropine drops, special lenses and time outdoors are important.
- The prescription stabilizesIf the prescription has not changed for at least one year, we can consider laser or ICL as alternatives to glasses and contact lenses.
- Near-vision advantageA person with myopia who takes off their glasses sees near objects clearly, so the need for reading glasses starts later.
- Cataract stageIf the prescription increases again and glasses no longer improve vision, a cataract may have started.
Myopia in your 20s: glasses, lenses, laser
When the eye stops growing, the prescription usually becomes stable. At this stage, besides glasses and contact lenses, we can consider permanent solutions:
- Laser eye surgery: if your prescription has been stable for at least one year and your cornea is suitable.
- Implantable lens (ICL): for people with a very high prescription or a cornea that is not suitable for laser.
I explain the option that suits you in detail on the myopia treatment page.
Myopia in your 40s: the near-vision advantage
In your 40s, everyone's near vision starts to decline. However, people with myopia get through this period more easily, because they can see near objects clearly when they take off their glasses. For this reason, we always discuss near vision with a person over 40 who has myopia and is considering laser. Monovision, where one eye is left slightly myopic, can be an option. I explain the details in the article “What can you do when your near vision gets worse?”.
Older age: cataract and retina in myopia
The type of cataract in which the lens nucleus hardens is more common in eyes with myopia. This type of cataract shifts the prescription towards myopia again. So, if your glasses prescription increases in older age and you still cannot see clearly with new glasses, this may be a sign of cataract. Its treatment is cataract surgery.
People with high myopia should not wait with these symptoms
- Suddenly increasing floaters or flashes of light
- A curtain or shadow in the visual field
- Straight lines looking bent, or blurring in the center
In eyes with high myopia, the retina is thinner. Retinal tears, detachment and macular problems are therefore more common. For this reason, people with high myopia need regular retina examinations, even if they have had laser.
Frequently asked questions about myopia
It can generally progress until the early 20s, when the eye stops growing. After this age, a rapidly increasing prescription should be investigated for other causes.
No. Glasses with the correct prescription do not make myopia worse. Likewise, wearing a weaker prescription or no glasses at all does not slow progression in children.
It is not always possible to stop it completely. However, low-dose atropine drops, myopia control lenses and time outdoors can slow progression.
Generally after the age of 18, and if the prescription has not changed significantly for at least one year. The corneal measurements must also be suitable.
Yes. Laser corrects the prescription on the cornea, but it does not change the structure of the eye. People with high myopia should therefore have regular retina check-ups.
Related pages
References
- Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, et al. Global prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(5):1036-1042. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.01.006
- Yam JC, Jiang Y, Tang SM, et al. Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% atropine eye drops in myopia control. Ophthalmology. 2019;126(1):113-124. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.05.029
- He M, Xiang F, Zeng Y, et al. Effect of time spent outdoors at school on the development of myopia among children in China: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2015;314(11):1142-1148. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.10803
- Pan CW, Cheng CY, Saw SM, Wang JJ, Wong TY. Myopia and age-related cataract: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Ophthalmol. 2013;156(5):1021-1033. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2013.06.005
This article is for patient information only and does not replace an examination or medical assessment. Your suitable treatment is decided after an eye examination and measurements. Publication date: September 25, 2026.
Contact Prof. Dr. Fırat Helvacıoğlu with your questions
Prof. Dr. Fırat Helvacıoğlu · Veni Vidi Eye Clinic, Bağdat Cad. No: 257, Caddebostan – Kadıköy / Istanbul