Childhood Myopia Is in Crisis Mode on a Global Scale
When it comes to the prevalence of myopia (nearsightedness), the statistics are staggering. By 2050, nearly half of the world's population — about 5 billion people — will be myopic. Below are a few useful tips to help you prevent your child from being part of that statistic.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia occurs when the eye elongates, causing light rays to focus in front of the light-sensitive retina rather than directly on it. So, people with nearsightedness perceive distant objects as blurred while close-up objects can remain clear.
Myopia tends to develop during childhood, when the eyeballs rapidly grow (along with the rest of the body), mainly between the ages of 8-18. It can worsen slowly or quickly, but it is not simply an inconvenience. People with progressive myopia are more likely to develop serious eye diseases like cataracts, retinal detachment, macular degeneration and glaucoma later in life.
Signs Your Child May Be Myopic
- Blurred distance vision — kids may complain they can't see the board
- Headaches from uncorrected vision
- Head tilting or squinting while watching TV
- Moving closer to the TV or screen
What Parents Can Do to Slow Myopia Progression
- Encourage your child to go outdoors for at least 90 minutes a day, preferably in the sunshine. Studies show that playing outdoors reduces the risk of developing myopia and slows its progression.
- Limit the amount of time your child spends staring at a screen, reading and doing close-up work.
- When your child uses a digital screen, make sure it isn't too close to the face.
- Teach the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a break to look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
How We Can Help
Certain eye doctors offer treatment methods known as myopia control or myopia management. These include orthokeratology, bifocal or multifocal contact lenses, and eye drops like low-dose atropine. Regular eyeglasses and contact lenses correct myopia but often don't prevent its progression.
If your child shows signs of myopia, schedule an eye exam with Eyecare Professionals of Gahanna in Gahanna as soon as possible.
Q&A
How is myopia diagnosed? Your child's eye doctor will perform a thorough pediatric eye exam to diagnose myopia, which often includes a visual acuity test using an eye chart.
Can myopia lead to blindness? Most of the time myopia does not cause significant short-term vision loss beyond the characteristic nearsightedness. However, high myopia may increase your child's risk of developing more serious eye conditions later in life, such as cataracts, retinal detachment and glaucoma.