Protecting Young Eyes: A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Myopia Prevention and Treatment

Various research shows that myopia among children is on the rise. In one study conducted in China, it was found out that 54.71% of children between six and 16 had this condition.

Another study showed that myopia was prevalent among children five to 17 years, with those aged between 11 and 17 more likely to have this condition.

These studies show that myopia is becoming a prevalent health issue among children around the world.

The good news is early intervention can slow and even prevent myopia progression in children. With various treatment options, including prescription glasses and paediatric ortho-K contact lenses, you can help your child stop this condition from getting worse if they have it.

What Is Myopia?

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is the inability to see faraway objects. It is a type of refractive error wherein the eyes’ shape does not bend or focus light correctly, which results in blurred vision.

Children with myopia have eyeballs that are too long from front to back. This condition can also develop when the cornea is curved too steeply.

This refractive error in children can be caused by one or a combination of the following causes:

Lack of outdoor time

According to a report, a child’s eyes are still growing between the ages of five and nine. Natural light can help preserve the eyes’ correct shape and length as they develop during this period.

But with kids spending less time outdoors and more indoors, they’re exposed to less sunlight, which means their eyes are not getting the help they need to develop healthily and correctly.

This lack of outdoor time also means children are not getting enough vitamin D. Kids with low levels of this nutrient are more likely to be nearsighted.

Increased near work

Near work refers to activities that require staring too long at anything within arm’s length. The demanding schoolwork and frequent use of devices for research and entertainment can cause children to develop or worsen their nearsightedness.

Genetics

Children who have one or both parents with myopia are more likely to be nearsighted.

If you or your spouse are nearsighted, your child frequently reads and uses the computer or a mobile device for homework and recreation, and doesn’t spend a lot of time outdoors, be on the lookout for symptoms of myopia.

These signs and symptoms include:

If a teacher informs you that your child cannot see the board from the back of the room and writes with their head close to the table, your child may likely already have myopia.

If you see these symptoms and signs in your child, your next step should be to take them to a trusted ophthalmologist in Dubai.   

How Is Myopia Diagnosed in Children?

An ophthalmologist will employ different methods to check if your child has myopia. These tests are simple and painless, which means your little one won’t feel any discomfort throughout the process.

Below is an overview of the typical diagnosis process:

Medical history check

The eye specialist will ask your and your child questions about their vision and symptoms they are experiencing. Make sure you write them down before your consultation so you can share them with the doctor.

The specialist will also ask about family history since as mentioned, myopia can be genetic.

Visual acuity test

The doctor will ask your child to read letters from a chart at varying distances. This helps measure how well they can see at both near and far distances.

Refraction test

The doctor will use a phoropter, an ophthalmic testing device with different lenses, to determine the correct prescription that can improve your child’s vision.

Eye health exam

The specialist will use a light and magnifying lens to examine the structure of your child’s eyes. This step checks for any underlying eye issues and ensures the eyes are healthy.

Cycloplegia

The doctor may use cycloplegic eye drops to relax the eye’s focusing muscles temporarily. This provides a more accurate measure of refractive error in your child’s eyes.

How Is Myopia in Children Treated?

If your child has myopia, the specialist will recommend a treatment option suitable for the degree of myopia that will prevent it from progressing.

These treatment options include:

Ortho-K

Paediatric orthokeratology, or ortho-k, entails having the child wear customised contact lenses to correct their nearsightedness. These contact lenses are made based on the results of corneal surface mapping and measuring and the degree of their myopia.

Your child has to wear the ortho-k lenses at night to flatten the cornea as they sleep. In the morning, the reshaped cornea ensures light passing through falls exactly on the retina. This allows your little one to see far objects clearly.

Orthokeratology is a safe and convenient way to correct vision in children and prevent myopia from progressing. Your child only needs to wear the lenses when sleeping, and they won’t need to wear glasses or contacts during the day, which can impede some of their activities.

Atropine eye drops

[1] Low dose atropine eye drops may be prescribed to kids between five and 18 years old with myopia. The drops are applied to each eye at night for two to three years.

This treatment helps prevent myopia from worsening since atropine drops may keep the eyes from elongating.

Prescription glasses and contact lenses

Prescription glasses and contact lenses correct the way light enters the eye, enabling it to focus properly on distant objects and prevent the eye from elongating. This improves vision and reduces the strain on a child’s eyes, which can help slow the progression of myopia over time.

When your child consistently wears the correct prescription, it also ensures that they avoid overworking their eyes. This, in turn, can help prevent their vision from getting worse.

Once your child starts their myopia treatment, make sure they see their ophthalmologist regularly. Doing so allows the specialist to check the treatment’s progress and adjust it when needed to ensure your little one’s nearsightedness doesn’t worsen.

Remind your little one to follow the 20-20-20 rule, which means turning away from the screen every 20 minutes to stare at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Encourage them to spend more time outdoors as well. These two tips can also help prevent their myopia from worsening.