Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a refractive ocular error and one of the most common correctable ocular conditions worldwide. It is an especially important term for parents because myopia is the leading cause of visual impairment in children in the United States. According to a recent Johnson & Johnson statistic, 27% of the world’s population was myopic in 2010. This number is projected to rise to 52% by 2050. The reason cases of nearsightedness have skyrocketed in recent years is, in part, due to the prolonged period of time children spend on electronic devices. This amount of time has been further exacerbated by video games, smartphone use, and online education. Keep reading to learn more about myopia and how you can protect your children’s vision!
Preventing Onset of Myopia in Children
There might be something to the adage, “Children don’t spend enough time outdoors.” Increasing sunlight exposure has been proven to help prevent myopia. So it won’t come as much of a surprise to parents that outdoor activity has been proven to prevent myopia in children. Two hours of daylight per day can help prevent nearsightedness. Unfortunately, once someone begins to exhibit symptoms of nearsightedness, spending more time outdoors does not appear to halt the progression of symptoms. While myopia is defined as a “progressive condition,” it typically reaches its peak stages by early adulthood.
Is Myopia Genetic?
Myopia is an inheritable trait, meaning that if one or more parents has myopia, then it is possible that the child will inherit nearsightedness. If your child has exhibited symptoms of degeneration, it is advisable to check the progression with your eye doctor every six months.
What is the Treatment for Nearsightedness?
There is no cure for myopia, but there are effective treatment plans. While sunlight is a major factor in preventing the development of myopia, the treatments vary while treating existing vision deterioration. The success of your myopia treatment strategies depends heavily on whether the patient developed myopia as a child or an adult. There are two primary varieties of treatment for myopia: Eyedrops, Prescription Contact Lenses, and Laser Surgery.
Atropine Eye Drops for Children with Myopia
Myopia treatments in children are a little different than in adults because the eyes are still growing. Atropine Eye Drops are only prescribed to children and will not cure nearsightedness. They can, however, slow down the myopia progression in children by 50%-60%. These children may still need to wear contact lenses or glasses to treat nearsightedness.
Using Contact Lenses to Prevent Nearsightedness
Studies indicate that specific contact lenses can slow the type of growth that increases nearsightedness. In fact, the FDA approved the first ever contact lens indicated to slow myopia in 2019. Because nearsightedness is so common in children and has the tendency to increase as children grow older, correcting nearsightedness as soon as possible is advisable for parents.
Laser Surgery to Treat Myopia
For adults, nearsightedness can be reversed through laser eye surgery, also called “refractive surgery.” This treatment reshapes the corneal eye tissue to correct the refractive error. This treatment is for adults only, as the FDA has not approved laser surgery for anyone under the age of 18.
Schedule Your Next Eye Exam at Eye Wares Today!
Eye Wares is your one-stop shop for eyewear and eye health needs. Regular eye exams, especially in children, can help determine if you have any eye diseases or vision deterioration that require treatment and observation. Schedule your next eye exam at Eye Wares, so our expert doctors can help design a vision plan that’s right for you!
