Myopia and the control of progressive myopia in Children
What is Myopia?
Source : https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/myopia-nearsightedness
Myopia or nearsightedness is one of the most common eyesight issues in the world, with almost
half of the population being affected by it. Studies also prove that myopia is fast becoming more
common among children, especially those who spend more time indoors doing activities such as
computer work, video games, and reading rather than those who spend more time outdoors.
In myopia, the eye is longer than normal from front to back, or the cornea (the clear window at
the front of the eye) is too steeply curved which makes things that are far away from you look
blurry.
How to correct and control Myopia?
Myopia can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or even surgery in some cases.
A few different kinds of special lenses that can help slow down the progression of myopia while
also giving the children clearer vision are :
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K lenses) where a rigid gas permeable contact lens is used overnight to reshape the cornea
MiYOSMART lenses by Hoya which use a special defocus feature incorporated in multiple segments or DIMS technology
Stellest lenses by Essilor which use a special HALT technology
Myovision lenses by Zeiss which are designed to enable and reduce the progression of myopia by an average of 30% in children with a family history of parental myopia
Your optometrist can recommend the prescription options they think will best suit the child’s needs after a thorough eye examination.
Source : https://www.allaboutvision.com/parents/myopia.htm
As parents, it is important to keep an eye on our child's visual habits, be alert for any signs of vision problems, and schedule regular eye exams for them with optometrists. The first eye exam can be as early as when they are 6 to 9 months of age. If developed in early childhood the child may not even know that they have a vision problem and assume that everyone sees the same way as they do. But early action can help slow down the progression of myopia and protect your
child’s vision.
Have any more questions about childhood myopia or want to get your child's eyesight checked for symptoms? Book an appointment with highly experienced and skilled optometrists at S.R.Gopal Rao opticians today.
