Does myopia get worse with age?

The general trend we see in practice is a rapid increase (about -0.75D to -1.00D per year) between 7 to 12 year old children. Between 13 to 16 year old children, it tends to slow down to about -0.25D to -0.75D per year. After the age of 16, myopia can still worsen but this is multi-factorial. We also see myopia worsening in some adults. However, after the age of 18, myopia should start to stabilize. For adults past the age of 40, changes in myopia levels can be due to internal changes in the eye rather than a lengthening of the eye ball as commonly seen in children.

Myopia usually stops getting worse by age 20 if good habits are maintained and most nearsightedness stabilizes at a mild to moderate level then.