How to Prevent Myopia Progression in My Child
Are you worried about your child’s myopia progression despite corrected visual habits?
We understand the complexities surrounding myopia and its advancement. Thankfully, you’re in the right place. We’re here to educate you on how to prevent myopia in child development from progressing.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common eye condition where things up close are clear, but things far away are blurry.
It happens when the eye grows too long, making it hard to focus light properly on the retina. This can cause blurry vision when looking at things far away, and sometimes, even up close.
Myopia makes things far away look blurry.
Did You Know?
- Myopia onset begins before symptoms appear, with irreversible changes occurring over time.
- Early detection and intervention are crucial for managing myopia progression.
- Despite efforts to correct visual habits, challenges remain in eliminating causative factors.
- We can help! We do specialty contact lens fittings specifically designed to prevent progression!
Why Does Myopia Happen?
The development of nearsightedness (myopia) is a complex process that starts beforeyou notice any vision problems. Studies show that the eye starts growing longer faster about one to two years before myopia is detected.
During this time, the eye tries to compensate for this growth by flattening the front of the lens. However, these efforts eventually stop working, leading to the development of myopia—a condition that is difficult to reverse once it reaches a certain point.
Studies show that the eye starts growing longer faster about one to two years before myopia is detected.
- Genetics: Myopia tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic component.
- Environmental Factors: Activities that involve close-up work, such as reading or using digital devices for extended periods, may increase the risk.
- Lack of Outdoor Time: Not spending enough time outdoors, especially during childhood, has been linked to a higher risk of myopia.
- Prolonged Near Work: Activities that require focusing on close objects for long periods, without breaks, may contribute to myopia.
- Age: Myopia often develops or worsens during childhood and adolescence, although it can occur at any age.
Understanding the age at which myopia sets in is crucial in predicting its progression. Studies suggest that the earlier myopia occurs and the faster it progresses, the less responsive it is to interventions aimed at improving visual habits. This highlights the need to find and treat myopia early in younger people to try to stop it from getting worse.
If you’re wondering, “How do I prevent myopia progression in my child?” read on below!
The earlier myopia occurs and the faster it progresses, the less responsive it is to intervention.
How to Prevent Myopia Progression in Your Child
Preventing myopia progression in children can be challenging, as it involves addressing factors such as close-up work, limited outdoor time, and genetic predispositions. While it’s difficult to completely eliminate these factors, early intervention and proactive management strategies can play a crucial role in slowing down myopia progression. Here are some ways to help prevent myopia progression in your child:
Specialty Contact Lenses
Did you know that we offer specialty contact lens fittings specifically designed to help prevent myopia progression?
It’s true! It’s a process called Orthokeratology, or Ortho-k for short. Ortho-k is the process of temporarily reshaping the cornea, the front surface of the eye, with a specially designed rigid gas permeable contact lens. These overnight contact lenses reshape the front surface of your eyes so you can see clearly the following day after removing the contacts. Ortho-k can be used to treat both myopia (or nearsightedness) or mild astigmatism.
Ortho-k has been utilized by eye care professionals for decades. The specific lenses we use in our office, called Paragon CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy) lenses, have been FDA approved for the treatment of myopia since 2002.
CRT lenses are a safe and effective way to treat mild to moderate myopia and astigmatism in patients of all ages. These lenses are especially beneficial for patients with an active lifestyle, patients who struggle with daytime contacts due to dryness and/or discomfort, and patients who are seeking an alternative to refractive surgery. An added benefit of Ortho-k is that it has been clinically and scientifically proven to slow down the progression of nearsightedness in both pediatric and adolescent patients.
Our doctors have several years of experience, training, and certifications, allowing us to best serve our patients with specialty contact lens needs. Call us at (713) 664-8087 to schedule an orthokeratology lens fitting today!
Encourage Outdoor Fun
Encourage children to spend more time outdoors, especially during daytime.
Studies suggest that increased exposure to natural light and outdoor environments can help reduce the risk of myopia progression.
Outdoor activities also encourage children to focus on distant objects, which can help relax their eye muscles that are strained from near work. Aim for at least two hours of outdoor time per day, if possible.
Aim for at least 2 hours of outdoor time per day.
Limit Close-Up Work
It’s important to limit the amount of time children spend on activities that require close-up focus, such as reading, using digital devices, or doing homework. Prolonged up-close work can strain the eyes and contribute to myopia progression.
Encourage regular breaks during up-close activities and ensure that the environment is well-lit and ergonomically friendly.
The 20-20-20 rule is a good guideline: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. Encourage your child to practice using this rule!
Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away.
Vision Therapist Natesha Williams works with a child at our Vision Learning Center
Try Vision Therapy
Consider exploring vision therapy for your child, especially if they are at risk for myopia progression.
Vision therapy consists of a series of eye exercises and activities that are designed to improve visual skills and reduce eye strain. These exercises can help improve focusing abilities, eye coordination, and visual perception, which can potentially slow down myopia progression.
A qualified optometrist or ophthalmologist can provide more information about vision therapy and whether it may be beneficial for your child.
Did you know that we actually offer vision therapy through our Vision Learning Center? Ask your eye doctor if it may be right for you the next time you have an appointment.
We offer Vision Therapy at our Vision Learning Center.
Schedule Regular Eye Exams
Schedule regular comprehensive eye exams for your child, even if they are not experiencing any vision problems. Early detection of myopia and monitoring of its progression are crucial for timely intervention and management.
During an eye exam, the eye care professional can assess your child’s vision and eye health, as well as provide guidance on how to manage myopia if it is detected.
Regular eye exams can help ensure that your child’s vision is properly monitored and any issues are addressed promptly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, myopia progression is influenced by age, genetics, and environmental habits. While fixing bad eye habits helps, it’s important to know that completely getting rid of the things that cause myopia is hard. Early intervention is key to possibly slowing down myopia getting worse, so regular eye check-ups and proactive management are crucial.
At Bellaire Family Eye Care, we’re committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources to navigate their myopia journey effectively.
