Many parents panic when their child comes home from school saying they can’t see clearly. Some may immediately blame the child for playing on their phone all day, and without further consideration, rush them to get glasses. However, this approach is entirely wrong.
When a child reports blurry vision or declining eyesight, there are a few things we should do first:
1. Talk with the child to understand how long the vision issue has been present — did it happen suddenly or has it been ongoing?
2. Evaluate the child’s recent lifestyle  — have they been getting enough rest? How is their homework or screen time?
3. Consider other possible causes  beyond myopia, such as nutritional imbalance, eye strain, or even trauma or other eye conditions.

Based on this understanding, we can make the right decision.

We know that when looking far, the ciliary muscle in the eye relaxes, and when looking up close, it contracts. Prolonged close-up work can cause the ciliary muscle to stay tense and lose its ability to relax — leading to myopia. Children have strong accommodation abilities, and temporary dysfunction of the ciliary muscle can often recover with rest. This condition is known as “pseudo-myopia.” If glasses are prescribed too hastily, it may develop into true myopia. In many cases, the child may simply be tired from too much homework and insufficient rest. If glasses are prescribed in this state, they may become dependent on them and unable to stop wearing them.

1. Take the child to a certified medical facility for a  cycloplegic refraction  (dilated eye exam) to determine whether it’s pseudo-myopia.

2. Conduct  visual function testing  to assess whether there is a lack of accommodative ability and if it can be improved through training.

3. After examination by a hospital or qualified professional, decide whether glasses are necessary based on the findings.

All of these procedures should be performed by a licensed and experienced medical professional.

1. Be cautious of unnecessary tests (such as corneal topography or ocular ultrasound), which can be costly and involve radiation exposure.

2. Light sensitivity after dilation is normal and will subside once the medication wears off.

3. Don’t rush into getting glasses — compare the degree of refractive error before and after dilation before making a decision.

If you have any questions, feel free to consult a hospital or another professional optometrist at any time.