Refraction changes in children

Most infants have a significant refractive error at birth, with the majority having hyperopia (longsightedness). The level of hyperopia decreases during infancy and early childhood, with most children retaining a low level of hyperopia by the time they are six years of age. Children can easily compensate for this normal level of hyperopia with their natural focussing ability and rarely need correcting with spectacles during this time. By the time children reach secondary school age, they will have often naturally out-grown their hyperopia; however, some won't and will still require vision correction with glasses or contact lenses.