The United States is rapidly turning into a nearsighted country: over 40% of people in the country suffer from myopia, and that percentage is rapidly rising, particularly among young people. Experts think there's a strong correlation between rising close-up viewing, especially screen time, but they don't know why. According to CDC estimates, kids between the ages of 8 and 10 stare at electronics like TVs, phones, tablets, and video games for six hours per day.
Myopia is incurable and advances swiftly once it begins. The good news is that you may prevent your child's nearsightedness from getting worse in the future by taking action now.
Why Is Childhood Myopia a Concerning Condition?
Even when myopia isn't fatal, parents should nonetheless take the problem seriously. If untreated, it may progress to high myopia, which in maturity may result in dangerous disorders that impair vision, such as:
Retinal detachment
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Crossed eyes
Myopia typically starts in childhood. It can advance at a pace of 0.50 diopter every year once it gets going. The unit used to measure the strength of prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses is called a diopter.
Ways to Delay the Advancement of Myopia
The most common treatment for nearsightedness that doctors prescribe is single-vision glasses. Although they won't stop the evolution of myopia, these lenses will correct the focusing error that results with it. There are ways to accomplish this, though. Here are a few treatments that have shown to be successful:
Low-dose atropine drops: Children aged five to eighteen are typically administered these drops at night for two or three years. Although its exact mechanism of action is unknown, doctors believe that the drops prevent the myopia-causing elongation of the eyeball. According to some eye physicians, the rate at which myopia progresses reduces by around half for up to 90% of children who use the drops. Redness and itching around the eyes are side effects.
Orthokeratology (ortho-k) contact lenses: also referred to as ortho-k contacts, are worn overnight. For sharp vision during the day, they smooth the cornea, or front surface of the eye. The cornea reverts to its natural form after you stop using these lenses, thus the impact is just momentary. In a few days, the myopia will return, but it won't be as severe if the lenses have been worn long enough. It is more difficult to fit ortho-k lenses than normal ones. Additionally, there's a higher risk of infection and a higher frequency of check-ups at the eye doctor.
Peripheral defocus contact lenses: This particular kind of multifocal contact lens may be beneficial for kids aged 6 to 12. They defocus peripheral (side) vision while sharpening distant vision with distinct foci. This aids in the myopia's slowing down. While not all children benefit from these lenses, children whose parents also have nearsightedness that is worsening appear to benefit the most from them. Corneal infection is always a possibility with contact lenses.
Vision therapy: Your youngster is intended to complete a set of exercises called vision therapy. It makes use of tools like prisms, filters, and video games to improve the coordination between their eyes and brains. It can decrease the progression of nearsightedness by teaching the eyes to better change focus between close and distant objects. It can make reading and other visual tasks simpler by easing the headaches and eyestrain that myopia frequently causes.
How Your Eye Doctor Monitors the Advancement of Myopia
Early attention to your child's vision is important. According to experts, a child should undergo an eye exam for the first time at the age of six months, again by the time they are two or three years old, and again just before they start school. Your child should see an eye doctor with experience in children's vision for a comprehensive exam to check for all the issues that may impact children, even if they have a vision screening performed by their pediatrician or at school.
If your child's eye doctor diagnoses them with myopia, they will do follow-up exams to monitor their development. They will do this by observing any changes in your child's eye's refraction at each examination. The power of the lens or contact needed for clear vision is measured by refraction. They will also measure the eyes' axial length. The eye becomes more myopic the longer the axial length. These measurements will be used by your eye doctor to determine if the therapies are effective or whether an adjustment is necessary.
Lifestyle Changes to Delay the Advancement of Myopia
By supporting these sensible decisions, parents can slow the progression of myopia in their children:
Play outside in natural light. Children who spend more than ninety minutes outside each day slow down the growth of myopia, according to research. Looking at objects from a greater distance allows kids' eyes to rest.
Use good lighting. Children can avoid eyestrain by working in well-lit environments.
Limit screen time. Taking a vacation from digital devices is a smart move if you want to slow down the advancement of myopia. Here are some ways parents might assist this process:
To cut down on the amount of time your child spends on a phone, computer, or tablet, keep an eye on how much time they spend using digital devices.
Establish a "no-phone zone" in the home, say at the dinner table or when watching TV with the family.
Set acceptable standards for yourself. Rather of immediately cutting their screen time in half, collaborate with them to establish attainable objectives that will gradually reduce it.
Spend time with your kids. Make sure that the time you spend with them each day is "device-free" by setting aside time for conversation or enjoyable activities. You can accomplish your aim of spending more time outside by doing this.
Introduce the 20-20-20 rule to children. To help prevent eyestrain, the American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests focusing your eyes for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes on an object that is at least 20 feet away.
How to Delay the Advancement of Your Child's Myopia
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