MYOPIA IN CHILDREN

 MYOPIA MEANS DIFFICULTY IN SEEING AT A DISTANCE 

Question: What is Myopia ?

Answer:

• Children have Poor Distance vision and Good Near Vision.
• Children have difficulty in reading from the Blackboard/Greenboard, expecially from back benches.
• Children have difficulty watching the Television and want to sit close to the screen.
• Children tend to have less interest in outdoor activities because of poor distance vision.
• Children tend to hold the books very close to the face to read.
• Need minus number spectacles (glasses) for seeing at a distance.

Question:What is the reason of getting Myopia ?

Answer:

• Commonest reason is Genetic , i.e., traits transferred from parents to children.
• Less outdoor activities and playing in the open .
• More emphasis on near activities like long hours of study and extended periods of digital screen usage.

Question: What is the difference in normal eyes and eyes with Myopia ?

Answer:

• Our eye is shaped like a ball and hence is called eyeball. 
• As a child starts growing , the size(diameter) of the eyeball also starts growing
• In Normal children , the growth of size of the eyeball is proportional to the growth of the rest of the body. Average diameter of eyeball is around 23.00 mm.
• In Myopic children , the size of the eyeball tends to grow bigger than a normal eyeball. 
• The size of the eyeball may reach upto 32.0 mm to 33.0 mm in highly myopic eyes.
• As the eyeball increases in size , the minus (-)number of the eye also keeps on increasing. For every 1.00 mm increase in eyeball size , there is an increase of minus 3 number in spectacles.
• Myopia may increase from mild myopia in younger age to high myopia as the child grows. Nature only decides the limit of it's increase.
• Maximum increase of minus spectacle number is during the age when the child gains height during puberty.

Question: How can you tell if your child has Myopia?

 Answer:

• Common signs include squinting, sitting very close to the TV or computer screen.
• Holding books or objects close to their face.
• Complaining about not seeing the blackboard or distant objects clearly.
• Getting poor grades at school could also be one indirect indicator.
• If you notice these signs, a visit to an eye specialist is recommended.

Question. What are the steps of treating a child with Myopia ?

Answer:

1. Eye Checkup of the child from an eye doctor or optometrist .
2. Getting a proper number checked up for making spectacles. May sometimes need more than one visit to the doctor for proper number checking.
3. Checking the Axial Length (diameter) of the eye and also the Corneal Power (Keratometry) of the eye.
4. Checking the Intraocular Pressure of the eye.
5. Checking the Retina of the child. 

Question. Is Myopia a serious condition?

Answer:

• In most cases, myopia is easily managed with corrective lenses.
• However, if it progresses to high levels, it can increase the risk of other eye conditions like retinal detachment, glaucoma, or cataracts later in life. 

Question. What can we do to prevent Myopia from worsening?

Answer:

• Encouraging your child to spend more time outdoors,
• Limiting screen time and close-up work, and ensuring they take breaks during reading or homework can help.
• Low-dose atropine eye drops to be used daily once a night in both eyes till the child turns 19 years old.
• Myopia Control Spectacles may be used to significantly reduce the progression of Myopia.

Question: How often should my child have their eyes checked?

Answer :

• Children should have their eyes checked up regularly , ideally every 6 months or as advised by an Eye Specialist .
• Regular eye exams help detect myopia early and ensure that prescription is updated as needed.
• Documents of every examination must be filed and stored safely by the parents to understand the progression of Myopia and subsequent decision making.

Question: Does screen time cause Myopia

Answer:

• While screen time itself doesn’t directly cause myopia, spending long hours focusing on close-up tasks like using screens or reading without breaks can contribute to its progression.
• It's important to encourage children to take breaks and look at distant objects to relax their eyes.

Question. Can Myopia be cured

Answer:

• Myopia cannot be cured, but it can be corrected ,managed and treated.
• Treatments can control how fast it progresses, especially during childhood.
• As children grow older, their vision is expected to stabilize.
• Treatment of number can be undertaken when children are past their growth period and their numbers have stabilized.

Question. Can outdoor activities really help with Myopia?

Answer:

• Yes, studies have shown that spending more time outdoors, especially in natural sunlight, can help reduce the risk of myopia and slow its progression in children.
• Encourage your child to play outside for at least 1 to 2 hours a day.
• Take Regular Breaks from Close-up Work .
• Follow the "20-20-20" rule: every 20 minutes, have your child take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away to reduce eye strain.

Question : Please list the lifestyle changes for a child with Myopia ? 

Answer:

-Encourage Outdoor Play
 Spending more time outdoors (at least 2 hours a day) has been shown to reduce the risk of developing myopia in children.

-Limit Screen Time
 Reduce the amount of time children spend on smartphones, tablets, or other digital screens, especially for prolonged periods.

-Ensure Proper Lighting

Make sure children are reading or doing homework in well-lit environments to avoid straining their eyes.

-Encourage Good Posture and Viewing Distance
 Teach your child to hold books or screens at a proper distance (about 30-40 cm) and avoid leaning too close to their work.

-Regular Eye Checkups
 Schedule routine eye exams to monitor your child's vision and catch any signs of myopia early, ensuring timely intervention if necessary.

 SUMMARY

1. Checking and Continuous use of Glasses
2. Repeat Glasses Check every 4-6 months. Change glasses as and when required.
3. Use dilute Atropine eye drops regularly till the age of 19-20 years.
4. Retina Checkup Every 12 months. And getting treated in case any deficiency is noted by the eye care specialist.
5. Use of Special Glasses designed for prevention of Myopia Progression.
6. Axial Length testing every 6-12 months and comparing with the previous readings to keep a tab on myopia progression.
7. Maintenance of record of all tests undertaken by the patient.
8. Treatment of Myopia not to be attempted until the progression of refraction has stabilized and patient has crossed the permitted age.

CLICK ON THE USEFUL LINKS BELOW  

• Special Glasses for Prevention of Myopia Progression
• Resource for more information on Myopia
• Low Dose Atropine for slowing down progression of Myopia