When Should You Worry About Myopia? Find Out Here
Myopia is one of the most common vision problems experienced by children. If it isn’t treated, it could lead to a more severe problem with their eyesight. Even though there is no cure for myopia, it can be fixed with glasses or contacts. You should start learning about myopia now and know how to help your child who has it right now.
What Is Myopia?
In myopia, the eyes become too elongated, causing nearsightedness. Because of this stretching, the image becomes clear and sharp but the focus is in front of the retina. Myopic eyes can see details up close, but when they are farther away, they blur. When it comes to vision problems, they can be refractive or non-refractive. And for myopia, it is a refractive error. This is so common in children that 20% of kids have myopia.
What Causes Myopia?
There are two possible causes of Myopia. It can be caused by genes, environmental factors, or both. Myopia is more common in children whose parents have the same condition. So if two parents have myopia, their kids are more at risk of developing the same compared to those with only one affected parent. Aside from genes there are also environmental and habits that can also cause myopia. As kids get older, if they overuse their eyes, they can get myopia even if they do not have the genes for developing it.
How Myopia Development Can Be Slowed Down
There are different methods used these days to help slow down the progression of myopia. The most common are using corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses as well as atropine eye drops. However, you must remember that not all methods are effective in controlling myopia progression. Each treatment type may have different effects on a patient. If you have concerns about your childs’ eye health, it is best that you consult with an eye care practitioner.
Also, it could help if you are able to encourage your child to reduce screen time and spend more of their free time outdoors. Take note that the more the child uses their gadgets, the more abuse they are doing to their eyes. It would be unrealistic to totally remove their access to gadgets. Instead, reduce the time they spend on these things and create a more fun and learning outdoor activity for them. And of course, be a good example so they too will follow through.
Importance Of Learning About Myopia
You might not be aware but your kids might have myopia without you knowing. That is why it is crucial that parents must have a good understanding of this eyesight condition. There are now plenty of resources to boost knowledge about myopia. One is reading guides and informative articles from Myopia Profile. This way, parents would be more educated and be able to prevent further problems and find the right treatment needed.