Children's Eye Health
Myopia Management in Zimbabwe: What Parents Need to Know
Myopia is becoming more common in Zimbabwean children - but it doesn't have to progress unchecked. Here's what every parent needs to understand about myopia, its risks, and the management options now available in Zimbabwe.
If your child squints at the whiteboard, holds a book closer than they should, or complains of headaches after school, they may be among the growing number of children developing myopia — commonly known as short-sightedness.
Myopia is a refractive error in which the eye grows slightly too long, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than on it. The result: distant objects appear blurred, while close-up vision remains clear.
It is more than just a visual inconvenience. When myopia develops early and progresses rapidly, it increases the long-term risk of serious eye conditions including glaucoma, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration.
Why is myopia becoming more common in Zimbabwe?
Research across Africa and globally points to two primary contributing factors: reduced time spent outdoors and increased near-work activities such as reading, studying, and screen use. Children today spend significantly more time focusing at close range than previous generations, and less time in natural daylight — both of which are associated with myopia onset and progression.
In Zimbabwe, the combination of academically demanding schooling and limited evidence-based eye care has meant that many children's myopia goes undetected until it is already progressing.
How do I know if my child has myopia?
Children rarely report vision problems clearly - many simply assume that blurred distance vision is normal. Warning signs parents should watch for include:
• Squinting or straining to see the board at school
• Sitting closer to the television than usual
• Frequent headaches, particularly after school
• Rubbing the eyes or losing concentration during class
• Difficulty recognising faces or objects from a distance
A comprehensive eye examination is the only reliable way to confirm myopia and assess its severity.
What is myopia management - and why does it matter?
Standard spectacle correction addresses the blur but does nothing to slow the progression of myopia. Myopia management is a clinical approach designed to do both: correct vision clearly while slowing the rate at which the eye continues to elongate.
This matters because the degree of myopia a child reaches in adulthood is directly linked to their risk of sight-threatening complications. Slowing progression - even modestly - significantly reduces that long-term risk.
What are the myopia management options available at Sanders?
At Sanders Optometrist, we offer evidence-based myopia management tailored to each child's clinical profile and lifestyle. Options we assess and prescribe from include:
• Myopia-control spectacle lenses - Specially designed lenses that correct vision while simultaneously managing peripheral defocus to reduce progression.
• Atropine eye drops- Low-concentration atropine is one of the most clinically studied and effective methods for slowing myopia progression in children. Administered nightly, it works by relaxing the focusing mechanism of the eye.
• MiSight contact lenses - Soft daily disposable contact lenses clinically proven to slow myopia progression. Designed specifically for children, they correct vision while delivering a peripheral defocus signal that reduces the stimulus for axial eye growth.
The right option depends on the child's age, the degree and rate of their myopia, and their daily routine. At Sanders, we conduct a thorough assessment before recommending any management protocol.
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At what age should myopia management begin?
The earlier intervention begins, the greater the potential benefit. Children who develop myopia before the age of ten tend to progress most rapidly and are at highest risk of high myopia by adulthood. Myopia management is most effective when started early, but it remains beneficial for older children and adolescents too.
If your child has been prescribed spectacles for the first time, this is often the ideal moment to discuss myopia management with your optometrist.
How often does my child need to be seen?
Children undergoing myopia management at Sanders are seen every six months as a minimum. These follow-up appointments allow us to monitor axial eye length, assess how well the current management protocol is working, and make adjustments where necessary. Regular monitoring is an essential part of any effective myopia management programme.
What parents in Zimbabwe should do now
If your child has not had a comprehensive eye examination in the past twelve months - or has never had one - book an appointment. Early detection is the single most important step. If myopia is identified, ask your optometrist specifically about management options rather than simply accepting a standard spectacle prescription.
The goal is not just clearer vision today. It is protecting your child's eye health for the decades ahead.
Book a myopia assessment.
Our paediatric eye care appointments include a full assessment of your child's refractive status, axial length measurement where indicated, and a personalised management recommendation. Call us or visit our website to schedule your child's examination.
