Myopia in Children

Myopia may be inherited. If a parent has myopia their child may get is as well. Myopia is often discovered in children when they are between ages 6 to 12 years old. During the teenage years, when the body grows rapidly, myopia may become worse. Between the age of 20 and 40, there is usually little change. Myopia can also occur in adults.

Causes of Nearsightedness (Myopia)

Myopia occurs when the eye is longer than normal or has a cornea that is too steep. As a result, light rays focus in front of the retina instead of on it. In this case, you see near objects clearly, but distant objects will appear blurred.

• Genetics (Family history of myopia)
• Excessive near work ( mobile, tab, Ipads etc)
• Lack of outdoor activities

Myopia Symptoms

Some of the signs and symptoms of myopia include:

• Eyestrain
• Headaches
• Squinting
• Difficulty seeing objects far away, such as road signs or a blackboard at school

These symptoms may become more obvious when children are between ages 8 and 12 years old.

Complications of high myopia :

People with myopia have a higher risk of developing weak areas in the periphery of retina, known as lattices or in later stage retinal breaks, holes or retinal detachment. See your ophthalmologist regularly once in a year to watch for changes in the retina that might lead to retinal detachment. People with high myopia may also have a higher risk of developing glaucoma and cataracts.

Preventive measures to avoid onset and to reduce progression of myopia :

• Outdoor activities: atleast 1:5-2 hours per day
• Sunlight exposure : Atleast 30 minutes per day
• Frequent Breaks : 20-20-20 Rule ( while doing near work, after every 20 min, Look at something far away from you ie. more than 20 feet for atleast 20 second) to break your accommodation, and thus to control myopia progression.
• Regular eye checkup : Eye check up is mandatory for all kids at the time of entry to school. It is a good idea to check your kids eyes every yearly to rule out myopia.
• Restrict use of mobile phones, IPads, Tabs, Laptops for entertainment purpose/for playing games. Zero screen time for kids below 2 years of age. Restrict TV time to 1:5-2 hours a day. Remember smaller the screen, more strain it will put on the eyes to increase risk of myopia. Encourage outdoor games or activities instead. Participate with them in outdoor activities.

How to suspect if your child has myopia :

• If parents have history of glasses / history of Lasik surgery.
• if you notice your child goes closer to TV to watch programs.
• If you notice that child holds books very close to face or bens down while drawing or writing.
• If you notice squinting in the eye or notice it in the photographs.
• High myopia may degrade performance in the school and studies as child has less vision, he is unable to see clearly and study well with interest.