About one in every three children worldwide has myopia, which is more commonly known as nearsightedness. The condition can cause far away objects to look blurry to your little one, and unfortunately, it tends to grow worse over time. The good news, however, is that it is actually possible to slow down the progression of myopia in children if the right steps are taken. Here’s what parents should know about controlling their children’s nearsightedness.
Why Does Myopia in Children Get Worse Over Time?
Myopia occurs when the light entering the eye does not focus on the retina properly. This is often a consequence of the eyeball being too long or improperly shaped.
As children with myopia continue to grow and develop, their eyes tend to become longer, which makes their nearsightedness worse. Furthermore, there’s evidence that spending a lot of time indoors doing near-focused vision activities (such as working on the computer or playing video games) can contribute to the progression of myopia.
How Can You Slow Down Myopia Progression in Children?
If you want to delay the progression of your child’s nearsightedness, it’s a good idea to have them spend at least an hour outside every day. It is thought that sunlight exposure can encourage the production of dopamine, which plays a role in regulating the growth of the eye.
You should also teach your child to follow the 20-20-20 rule. When they spend a prolonged amount of time in front of an electronic screen of any kind, they should take a break every 20 minutes to focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This helps reduce the eye strain that can contribute to myopia.
What Treatments Can Slow Down Myopia Progression?
In addition to taking steps at home to manage your child’s myopia progression, you can also check to see if their optometrist can offer any solutions. Examples of treatments that can slow down myopia include:
- Ortho-K: Ortho-K involves special contact lenses that temporarily change the shape of the cornea, allowing the light entering the eyes to focus on the retina properly.
- MiSight 1-Day Contact Lenses: MiSight 1-day contact lenses are designed to improve your child’s vision while also slowing down the rate at which the eye elongates.
- Atropine Therapy: Studies have shown that regularly using a certain dosage of atropine drops can slow the progression of nearsightedness.
Leaving myopia unmanaged can eventually result in serious vision problems. Thus, as a parent, it’s up to you to make sure that the proper measures are taken to keep your child’s nearsightedness under control.
About the Author
Dr. Jordana Chettiparampil is a licensed Therapeutic Optometrist. She specializes in controlling myopia in children via Ortho-K and other forms of treatment. She offers routine eye exams and a wide range of other services at Richmond Eye Experts. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Chettiparampil, visit her website or call (832) 685-2020.