What are the chances that your child will need glasses? The genetics of myopia (or nearsightedness) is complex: more than 200 genes are associated with myopia! Studies show that myopia prevalence increases in children with the number of myopic parents, from 14.9% for one myopic parent to 43.6% for two myopic parents.

And does your amount of prescription impact your child’s? Not much. Research indicates genetics only accounts for 10% of a person’s refractive error (prescription amount).

So even if both parents are myopic, your child still has less than a 50% chance of being myopic themselves. To reduce the risk of a high prescription even further, there are FDA-approved ways to slow down prescription changes in childhood. Learn more about our myopia management program here and schedule an appointment with Dr. Barnes, Lyerly, or Weyand to talk through the unique risk factors and treatment options for your child’s eyes.

Jennifer Lyerly, OD