Practical Ways to Prevent Childhood Myopia from Worsening
Myopia (nearsightedness) alters the shape and structure of the eye, which then limits its capability to focus on objects in the distance (AKA blurry distance vision). Subtle signs of myopia you might be on the lookout for in your child could include: Squinting; complaints of headaches; difficulties in school or extracurricular activities; and/or finding them too close to their TV, tablet, or book. Besides immediate pain and discomfort, myopia can signal more serious eye health issues down the road—like cataracts or detached retinas—so the sooner it is diagnosed (and prevented from worsening), the better!
Myopia can be passed down genetically (if you yourself are myopic, your biological children are more likely to be as well), and can also come about from environmental habits. If you suspect your child could be myopic, get their eyes checked ASAP! If your child has already been diagnosed with myopia, here are some practical ways to curb its progression.
SPEND TIME OUTDOORS. Being outdoors in the daylight has several benefits. Firstly, the eyes have to do the work of focusing on a range of distances—from the horizon, to middle-distance, to up-close and back again, constantly—which can help retrain the muscles to be more flexible. Secondly, exposure to vitamin D from the daylight seems to have an effect on myopia’s progression. A minimum of 90 minutes of outdoors every day is the most ideal.
GET REGULAR EYE EXAMS. Myopia is a very treatable condition, particularly when detected early—that is why it is crucial to get your kid’s eyes checked at least once a year. The only reliable way to know if your kid is at risk for myopia is through a clinical eye test measuring the length of the eye. (Note: If your eye doctor is not conducting this test, they are not providing you with the best measure of your child’s eye health!) Further, the disorder might show very few signs in the early stages, so establishing baseline measurements really helps the doctor to track your kid’s myopia progression.
LIMIT SCREEN TIME. Excessive screen time and continuous “near work” are the greatest non-genetic risk factors for myopia. Activities like computer use, drawing, and reading can cause a substantial amount of eye strain. It’s likely that school-age kids will have a hard time avoiding these activities entirely, so it is advisable to limit the time they spend on devices in particular in their downtime (click here for some tips on how to limit screen time). Taking regular tech breaks helps the eyes to relax and not get “stuck” focusing on one distance.
TRY MYOPIA MANAGEMENT OPTIONS:
SOFT MULTIFOCAL CONTACT LENSES: These special contact lenses worn only during the day provide vision correction AND myopia progression management, simultaneously.
OVERNIGHT CONTACT LENSES: KIDS lenses are another special kind of contact lenses, but are worn only at night, during sleep. They are custom-made for each individual and comfortably reshape the cornea (the clear, front surface of the eye) while the wearer is sleeping.
ATROPINE EYE DROPS: Atropine eye drops can help keep the progression of nearsightedness in check by curbing elongation of the eyeballs, while also strengthening them structurally. Atropine eye drops are safe when used in proper amounts—so it’s very important to follow the eye doctor’s prescription precisely.
Although presently it is not yet possible to cure myopia, it can be treated/significantly slowed through the practices mentioned above. A myopia diagnosis does not mean regular life is over for your child—managing the condition with the right practices can contain its progression and slow or potentially stop the disease in its tracks.