Myopia is often misunderstood because it is referred to as short-sightedness. What that really means is that our short-range sight is okay but longer distances are a problem. Myopia progression in children can be distressing for the child and the parents because eyesight weakness is associated with older people and children may not be able to fully understand changes to their eyesight depending on their age.
The good news is that if myopia is spotted early, there is plenty that can be done to help.
Progressive myopia can be genetic, so parents who have myopia themselves should be vigilant, and through their own experience they are likely to notice sight issues in their child. It has also been linked with too much screen time and too little time spent outdoors, where the eyes are naturally exercised by looking near and far, here, there and everywhere.
Whatever the cause, myopia can be managed, and research continues into treating it. Progressive myopia tends to start before age 10 and then usually stabilises in the late teen years.
In some cases, there can eventually be severely limited sight, but this is not always the case by any means. Prompt action is essential to give the child the help they need.
Get Their Eyes Tested
If you think your child may have myopia, make an appointment at the optometrist and get them tested. The immediate priority is to get help so they can see well enough to read and learn.
Glasses are the obvious answer, but children can also benefit from wearing contact lenses. These options don’t just correct the issue artificially; they can also slow the deterioration of the eyesight.
Encourage Good Eye-Health Habits
There is no point in demonising computer screens and smartphones. They are part of our lives and for the foreseeable future having computer skills is going to be vitally important to a huge number of professions. Very few parents, then, will ban their children from using screens, but we can teach them good habits and warn them of the dangers.
Basic concepts such as how close we get to a screen are easily conveyed, and we can help a child by adjusting the settings on their devices so that text is larger than standard. There are also settings for screen brightness and dark backgrounds, which can reduce glare, eye strain and potential damage.
It may be too early to introduce the concept of blue light and how it can be problematic, but until the child is old enough to grasp the principles, an adult can use the settings on a phone or computer to reduce this.
Advice for Parents: What is Blue Light and is it Relevant to Progressive Myopia?
If the issue is progressive myopia, blue light is not the culprit, but it does have an effect on sleep, which is hugely important for everyone, not least children as the body heals while it’s asleep.
Blue light is a natural part of the light spectrum and is present in sunlight and artificial light as well as through screens. What makes it problematic as regards computers and phones is that the eyes focus so strongly and for such long periods on these devices that blue light has unchallenged access to the eyes.
As basic and automatic a function as it is, blinking can help with general eye comfort, and if you are teaching good habits, this can be included.
Progressive myopia is not the end of the world, but it should be taken seriously and we should do what we can to combat it. Learn more at Microprism Vision.