How can you tell if your child has myopia?

Myopia, often called short-sightedness or near-sightedness, is a condition of the eyes that results in blurry long-distance vision. A person with myopia can see clearly up close. In children with short-sightedness, you may observe the following behaviors:

• Complaining of blurry vision
• Holding objects close to their face
• Sitting very close to screens
• Squinting or closing one eye to see better
• Frequent eye rubbing
• Excess blinking
• Watery eyes
• Frequent headaches

If you notice such behaviors in your child, it is advisable to promptly take the child to consult an ophthalmologist to identify the cause and make corrections. The faster the correction, the greater the chance of delaying myopia, and your child will have better development in various activities.

 

Myopia arises from what?

When the shape of the eyeball is elongated or the cornea is excessively curved, incoming light fails to focus properly. Instead of focusing directly on the retina, the light converges in front of it, resulting in blurred vision.

 

What factors contribute to the development of myopia?

• Genetics
  • If children have one myopic parent, their risk of myopia doubles, and if they have two myopic parents, it increases 3 to 5 times, potentially compounded with subsequent generations.
• Environment
  • Children who like indoor activities, such as using computers, playing on tablets/smartphones, and watching television, have higher risk of myopia compare to children who like to play outdoors.

 

How can parents prevent this condition?

• Observe the early sign
  • Early detection of myopia allows for more effective treatment and better prospects for slowing its progression. Become acquainted with myopia symptoms and observe your child's interactions with their surroundings attentively.
• Regular eye examinations
  • Regular eye examinations are crucial for younger children who may not recognize or articulate vision issues themselves. A qualified ophthalmologist can evaluate your child's vision and eye health during these assessments.
• Take a break
  • While reading, using screens, and doing homework are essential activities for children and teenagers, it is crucial for them to take brief breaks every 20 minutes to relieve the strain on their eye focusing muscles. Maintaining a distance of at least a forearm's length between their eyes and their close work can decrease eye strain and the likelihood of developing myopia. 
• Limit screen time
  • Younger children are frequently using smartphones and tablets, yet excessive screen time has been associated with myopia, eye strain, and dry eye symptoms. It is recommended that school-aged children and adolescents limit their non-school-related screen time to no more than 2 hours per day.
• Increase outdoor activity
  • From the study, it was found that engaging in outdoor activities for more than 2 hours can reduce the risk of developing short-sightedness. This is thought to occur due to the stimulation of dopamine release, a neurotransmitter that inhibits the growth of the eye's axial length.

 

Management of myopia

• Eyeglasses
  • Eyeglasses are a simple way to correct your child's blurred eyesight. Bifocal lenses have been shown to slow myopia progression by about one-third (about 33%) in children aged 8 to 13 years at the start of treatment.
• Contact lens
  • For certain individuals, contact lenses provide clearer vision and a broader field of view compared to eyeglasses. There are two types of lenses: rigid lenses, which often have a lifespan exceeding 1 year, and soft lenses, which are typically replaced more frequently and are available as daily, bi-weekly, or monthly disposables.
• Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
  • Specially crafted rigid contact lenses are worn in succession to gradually alter the curvature of the cornea, the outer surface of the eye. These lenses apply pressure to flatten the cornea, thereby altering the way light is focused as it enters the eye.
• Medicine: Atropine

 

Atropine eye drops for myopia control in children

Atropine eye drops have demonstrated effectiveness in slowing the progression of myopia. They come in three concentration levels: high (1% and 0.5%), moderate (0.1%), and low (0.01%, 0.025%, and 0.05%). Current studies have found that low-dose atropine eye drops can effectively delay the onset of myopia, with the fewer undesirable side effects, such as ocular discomfort and blurred near vision, than the higher dose. Therefore, the doctors often prefer to start atropine eye drops with the low-dose and then gradually adjust the medication to find the most suitable option.
It is crucial to understand that these eye drops do not correct vision; therefore, your child will still require eyeglasses or contact lenses.
 
For more information, contact Drug Information Service at Bumrungrad International Hospital