Myopia or nearsightedness is a condition that can be brought about by many factors including genetic inheritance. It alters the shape and structure of the eye limiting its capability to focus on objects in the distance (blurry distance vision). If you have struggled with the condition before, your kids might also develop the disorder at some point in life.
Myopia starts with signs small signs such as squinting, sitting too close to the TV, tablet, or book, and sometimes even manifests as headaches. Besides pain and discomfort, the onset of myopia can have a ruinous impact on the quality of your kid’s life. It can be hard to read the board at school or perform well in extracurricular activities. Therefore, it is imperative to diagnose and prevent myopia from worsening to more sight-threatening conditions. We have hand-picked practical ways you can utilize in curbing the progression of myopia in children
Let Them Spend Time Outdoors
The bright and ambient light outdoors is linked to the modulation of correct eye development. Spending time outdoors can help reprogram the eye structure to focus on distant objects. You should encourage your kid to spend more time outdoors especially if he or she has already been diagnosed with myopia.
Quality outdoor time helps to preserve good eyesight in addition to delaying the onset or progression of nearsightedness. Ideally, children need a minimum of 90+ minutes of quality time outdoors every day.
Regular Eye Checks are Crucial
Myopia is a very treatable condition, particularly when detected early. That is why it is crucial to take your kid for an eye test at least once a year. The disorder might show very few signs in its early stages, which is why establishing baseline measurements early is paramount. Additionally, some of its signs like headache and blurry vision can easily be confused for other conditions.
When left untreated, myopia will gradually progress increasing the likelihood of contracting other vision disorders like cataracts or detached retinas. The only reliable manner to know if your kid is at risk of nearsightedness is through a clinical eye test measuring the axial length of the eye. If your eye doctor is not conducting this test, they are not providing you with the best measure of your child’s eye health.
Limit Screen Time
Excessive screen time and continuous near work are the greatest non-genetic risk factors for nearsightedness. Activities such as computer use, drawing, and reading can cause a substantial amount of strain on the eye. If your children cannot avoid these activities entirely, it is advisable to limit the time they spend on them.
Taking regular breaks helps the eye to relax and is ideal for managing the nearsightedness condition.
Try Soft-multifocal Lenses for Myopia Control
We are still a few months or even years away from an FDA-approved eyeglass for treating myopia. By wearing our Daytime Soft Contact Lenses, your child no longer has to depend on glasses to have clear vision during the daytime. We understand that at times, glasses can be an inconvenience for activities like sports and other vigorous activities. As such, our contact lenses not only allow your child to see clearly but also be free from the hassle of wearing glasses. In addition, our Daytime Soft Contact Lenses, like all our other products, are FDA-approved, ensuring safety and effectiveness. Our doctors would also follow up in subsequent consultations to ensure that your child is doing well and that our Daytime Soft Contact Lenses are comfortable for their eyes.
Go for Atropine Eye Drops
Atropine eye drops can help keep the progression of nearsightedness in check by curbing eyeball elongation. The chemical agent also strengthens eyeball structures to prevent unwarranted eye growth that might occur in adolescent years to trigger myopia.
Atropine eye drops are safe when used in proper amounts. You should always follow the eye doctor’s prescription when administering the chemical for effective myopia modulation.
Overnight Lenses Might Help
Treehouse Eyes’ Overnight Contact Lenses are specially designed to be worn only in the evening as your child goes to bed. As such, our Overnight Contact Lenses should be worn during sleep and taken out in the morning before your child prepares for the day. Specifically called KIDS Lenses, these lenses are custom-made for each child to gently and comfortably reshape the cornea, which is the clear front surface of the eye. It’s incredibly important to ensure that our Overnight Contact Lenses are tailored to each child as everyone’s eye shape is different. If the lenses do not fit a particular eye shape, the eyes may get infected by a corneal abrasion. As such, at Treehouse Eyes, each child will undergo a consultation to receive his or her very own lenses that are fitted to their unique eye shape. Studies have shown that myopia progression can be slowed dramatically and, in some cases, stopped through this treatment in children.
Conclusion
Although it is impossible to cure myopia, the condition can be treated with several clinical methods including the use of daytime soft lenses. A nearsightedness (or short-sightedness) diagnosis does not mean it is over for your child. Instead, you should focus on managing the conditions with the right practices to contain its progression and slow or potentially stop the disease in its tracks.
Dr. Kapadia originally hails from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brock University. He then went on to graduate with honors from the Michigan College of Optometry in 1998, where he specialized in contact lenses. After he graduated, Dr. Kapadia completed a one-year residency at the renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida, where he focused on ocular diseases.
Dr. Kapadia graduated with honors from the Michigan College of Optometry in 1999, where she received the Wesley-Jessen award for Outstanding Work in Contact Lenses. During her studies, she also served as President of Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH), which works to improve the sight of millions of people in developing countries.
After growing up in Minersville, Pennsylvania, Dr. Price graduated from Susquehanna University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. Dr. Price continued her education at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and completed her training in 2016. After graduation, Dr. Price spent her career studying advanced eye diseases and specialized Low Vision services and devices.
Dr. Morgan Kickliter grew up in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Dr. Phillips earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of Georgia before achieving his Doctor of Optometry from the Southern College of Optometry. There, he served as Vice President of the Georgia Optometric Student Association and provided free and cost-reduced optometric care to underserved patients in Mexico and Belize with the Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity. He served his residency at Gainesville Eye Associates, focusing on ocular diseases.