How I've Kept My Kids Vision Perfect 20/20 as a Pediatric Ophthalmologist
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“Wait, your kids don’t wear glasses? But isn’t your husband really nearsighted?”
This is hands down one of the most common questions I get—not just from patients, but from friends, other parents at school, even people who casually know my family. They see my kids without glasses and can’t quite believe it, given the strong family history.
And the truth is: yes, my husband is very nearsighted. And yes, my kids love reading, and they’re on screens (probably more than I’d like to admit). So, the risk is absolutely there. But my kids don’t wear glasses—and the reason is because I started treating them with low-dose atropine eye drops years ago, before they ever became nearsighted.
Today, I want to share what that’s been like—both as a pediatric ophthalmologist who treats myopia every day and as a parent who’s trying to protect her kids’ future vision.
Why This Matters
It’s easy to think of glasses as just an inconvenience. But the science tells us otherwise. Every single “step” deeper into nearsightedness carries risk for lifelong, vision-threatening complications.
For every 1 diopter increase in nearsightedness, the risk of retinal detachment jumps by more than 30%.
Myopic maculopathy risk increases by 58%.
Glaucoma and cataract risk go up too.
So when I looked at my husband’s strong prescription and thought about my kids’ risk, I knew I didn’t want to wait until they were already struggling with blurry vision. Prevention mattered.
What “Pre-Myopic” Means
When I say my kids weren’t nearsighted yet, that’s important. Their vision was perfect—20/20 on the eye chart. But when I measured their axial length (the length of the eyeball), it was already longer than normal for their age.
That’s what we call pre-myopic. It means the eye hasn’t tipped over into needing glasses yet, but it’s headed in that direction. Think of it as standing at the top of a hill. You can either let gravity pull you down—or you can put the brakes on early.
What the Research Says
I didn’t just do this on instinct. The decision was rooted in data:
Meta-analysis of 600+ kids: Children given low-dose atropine were 38% less likely to become nearsighted. Even more importantly, they were 50% less likely to progress quickly.
LAMP2 Trial: Looked at children ages 4–9 at risk of myopia. Over two years, 53% of kids on placebo became nearsighted, compared to only 24% of those on atropine 0.05%.
The takeaway? Atropine doesn’t just slow worsening myopia once it starts. It can actually delay or prevent it from starting in the first place.
What It’s Like at Home
Here’s the reality behind the science:
The drops are compounded at a special pharmacy (not something you can pick up at your local drugstore—at least, not yet).
They’re stored in the fridge and given once a night, before bed.
My kids… don’t love it. My middle son especially hates eye drops and also developed some light sensitivity, so we had to adjust his concentration.
We’re not perfect either—we forget sometimes. But overall, this routine has kept their eyes healthy. My kids are now 11, 13, and 16. All three are still 20/20 without glasses.
What Else We Do
The drops aren’t the only thing. Lifestyle plays a huge role, too:
2 hours outdoors daily (the most natural protection against myopia progression)
Limiting recreational screen time
20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes of near work, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds)
These are simple but powerful ways to protect kids’ vision.
What You Should Ask Your Eye Doctor
If you’re worried about your child’s risk, here are a few questions to bring up at your next visit:
Does my child’s family history or lifestyle put them at higher risk for myopia?
Do you prescribe low-dose atropine eye drops?
Can you measure my child’s axial length to see if they’re trending toward nearsightedness?
Is my child’s cycloplegic refraction (the most accurate glasses measurement after dilation) where it should be for their age?
Not every doctor prescribes atropine yet—but knowing the right questions helps you advocate for your child.
Final Thoughts
I’ve seen what severe myopia can do. I’ve taken care of patients with retinal detachments who had to lie face-down for weeks after surgery. I’ve watched people lose vision permanently. As a mom, I wanted to do everything possible to protect my own kids from that future.
That’s why I started treatment early. And it’s why I share this so openly—because if you’re a parent with a strong family history of nearsightedness, you deserve to know that options exist.
Your child doesn’t have to follow the same path.
Want to Learn More?
This is just the beginning. In upcoming episodes, we’ll explore:
-How screen time and digital habits are shaping our kids’ development
–The connection between vision and overall health
–What you need to know about common eye procedures like LASIK and cataract surgery
–Practical ways to advocate for your child’s visual needs
You can subscribe to my podcast, In Focus, anywhere you listen—or follow along on Instagram for updates and tips.
Watch this episode on Youtube right now!
Thanks for reading—and for doing what you can to protect your child’s vision, one step at a time.
– Dr. Rupa Wong
Pediatric Ophthalmologist | Surgeon | Mom of 3
This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network! Learn more about Pinnacle at learnatpinnacle.com
