Myopia in children-an increasing problem in today’s society
Posted by Parth Shah on January 18th, 2021
What is myopia?
Myopia is a condition in which the eye does not focus properly. It is also known as “short-sightedness” or “near-sightedness.” People with myopia can see more clearly at short distances but have blurred vision at long distances.
When is myopia diagnosed?
Myopia typically starts in childhood and is usually diagnosed between 5 – 12 years of age. As the child is growing, so does the eyeball. Faster than average growth of the eye can lead to progression (worsening) of myopia until the person is around 20 years of age, or older.
How does myopia affect a child’s vision?
Myopia affects a child’s ability to see both at home and at school, particularly the whiteboard or screen at the front of the classroom.
What causes myopia?
Myopia occurs when:
- the eyeball is longer than average (most common cause), or
- the cornea of the eye (clear window at the front of the eye) is too steep.
What are the problems with myopia?
A high degree of myopia is associated with an increased risk of vision loss from complications associated with the abnormally-long eyeball. These include retinal detachment, macular problems, glaucoma, and cataract
Treatment options for myopia
Glasses or contact lenses are prescribed to help the child see better for long-distance. The glasses should NOT be an under-power prescription as there is no evidence of this reduced progression.
In progressive childhood myopia, near-sightedness often begins in early childhood and progresses as the child grows.
Environmental intervention
All children should have environmental intervention which has been shown to reduce the progression of myopia. These are:
- At least 2 hours of exposure to natural light every day. This can be direct exposure outdoors or even indoors through a window.
- No reading in dim light. It is critical that children do not read books or use a phone, tablet, or another device with the overhead room lighting switched off. This must be emphasized to the child particularly at bedtime.
Atropine eye drops
There is established data in to the use of atropine eye drops to reduce myopia progression. Most of the data comes from studies in Asian populations.
