Myopia in Children
Promoting Healthy Vision with Sandton Optometrists, CooperVision’s MiSight and Hoya’s MiyoSmart.
Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness. Myopia is a refractive error of the eye that causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects are seen clearly. Over the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of myopia, particularly amongst children and young teenagers.
Causes of Myopia in Children
- Genetic Predisposition: Children with a family history of myopia are at a higher risk of developing the condition. If one or both parents have myopia, the likelihood of their child being myopic increases significantly.
- Excessive Near Work: The modern lifestyle, dominated by prolonged close-range activities such as reading, using digital devices (tablets and smartphones), and studying, is believed to contribute to the development of myopia. The eye's constant effort to focus on nearby objects can lead to the elongation of the eyeball, resulting in myopia.
- Lack of Outdoor Time: Spending more time indoors and engaging in limited outdoor activities has been linked to an increased risk of myopia. Natural sunlight exposure and time spent in brighter environments seem to have a protective effect on the eyes.
- Environmental Factors: Certain environmental factors, such as urbanisation, higher levels of education, and socioeconomic status, have been associated with an increased prevalence of myopia in children. Limited exposure to natural light in urban settings and increased academic pressure may contribute to the development of myopia.
Effects of Myopia on Children
Myopia can have a profound impact on a child’s life and overall well-being. Uncorrected myopia can lead to blurred vision, eye strain, headaches, and difficulty seeing distant objects clearly. If left unmanaged, myopia can progress rapidly, leading to high levels of nearsightedness and an increased risk of complications like retinal detachment, cataracts, and glaucoma later in life.
How to Promote Healthy Vision
- Regular Eye Exams: Routine eye examinations by an optometrist or ophthalmologist are crucial for early detection and management of myopia. Children should have their eyes examined regularly, especially if they have a family history of myopia or are experiencing visual difficulties.
- Outdoor Activities: Encouraging children to spend more time outdoors, engaging in activities like sports, playing, and exploring nature, can help reduce the risk of myopia development. Exposure to natural light and the visual stimulation provided by the distant environment are believed to have a protective effect on the eyes.
- Balanced Visual Habits: Promote a balanced approach to visual activities by encouraging regular breaks during near work. The 20-20-20 rule can be followed, where every 20 minutes, the child takes a 20-second break to look at an object 6 meters away, reducing eye strain and fatigue.
- Proper Lighting: Ensure adequate lighting while reading or engaging in close-range activities to reduce eye strain. A well-lit environment with appropriate task lighting is beneficial for maintaining good visual health.
- Corrective Measures: If myopia is detected, corrective measures such as spectacles or contact lenses should be prescribed.
Myopia Control
Myopia Control refers to various methods and treatments aimed at slowing down or halting the progression of myopia.
Myopia Control is for parents of children who agree that progressive myopia is more than a vision problem, but rather a real disease. Myopia Control is not to be taken lightly. Our Myopia Control programs require a vested interest to ensure compliance. They take time, financial investment and patience.
Our Optometrists, Michelle Dateling and Idette Potgieter at Sandton Optometrists are certified to do Myopia Control with Coopervision’s MiSight contact lenses and Hoya’s MiyoSmart spectacle lenses. Let us assist your child to learn better through better vision!