What is Myopia?
Myopia (near-sightedness) is when close-up objects look clear but distant objects are blurry. For instance, you can read a map clearly but have trouble seeing well enough to drive a car. In this condition Minus number spectacles are given.
Myopia, or near-sightedness, is a common vision problem that often begins between the ages of 6 and 14. It affects an estimated 5% of pre-schoolers, about 9% of school aged children and 30% of adolescents.
Children are more likely to develop myopia if their parents are near-sighted. However, myopia is on the rise overall, especially in kids. No one theory has been fully proven, but experts believe it could be related to more time doing closer tasks indoors like using computers and digital devices.
Myopia symptoms in children
Symptoms of myopia include:
- Complaints of blurry vision such as not being able to see the board in school
- Squinting to try to see better
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Frequent headaches
Diagnosing Myopia
See your Doctor (Ophthalmologist or Optometrist) if eyesight is blurry and the child is experiencing any symptoms mentioned above.
Treatment of myopia in childhood
Myopia cannot be reversed but it can be aided using spectacles, contact lenses and later in adulthood refractive surgery such as Lasik can be done.
The goals of treatment are to improve your child’s vision and prevent it from getting worse.
1.Glasses
Glasses for myopia can be used all the time or as recommended by your eye doctor.
It is important to choose frames that fit well and work for your child’s age and activities.
2.Contact lenses
Contact lenses are an option if your child is active in sports or socially conscious.
While there’s no age limit for contacts, your child should be able to tolerate and practice good hygiene. Contacts need to be cared for on a daily basis to prevent eye infections.
Myopia Control in Children
Doctors are looking at ways to slow the progression of myopia in children. While myopia cannot be reversed, the goal of treatment is to keep it from getting worse. This can protect a child’s eye health in the future, despite still needing to wear glasses or contact lenses.
1. Low-dose atropine eye drops
These drops when given to children in low doses over 2 to 3 years, may slow the progression of myopia. Eye drops need to be put every night before sleeping and it is important to understand the commitment and pros and cons before starting this treatment.
2. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Orthokeratology is a contact lens that a child wears overnight to correct blurry distance vision during the day. Also called Ortho-K, the lenses flatten your cornea while you sleep.
Wearing Ortho-K lenses only improves vision for a short time only.
There is a risk of infection with Ortho-K lenses. They are also more difficult to fit compared to regular contacts lenses, and more follow-up visits to the doctor are needed.
3. Steps You and Your Child Can Take that May Help Slow Myopia
Make sure your child spends more time outdoors. Limit screen time on computers or other digital devices. By balancing screen time with outdoor time, you may help limit your child’s myopia and protect their vision as they grow older.
By Rina Mistry,
Optometrist and contact lens specialist at Moolani’s Eye Care Centre and Dr. Samita Moolani