Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is becoming more common among kids everywhere. If your child squints when looking at objects far away or holds books too close to their face, they might have myopia. Progressive myopia, or nearsightedness that worsens over time, can lead to more severe vision problems and increase the risk of eye diseases later in life.
As parents and caregivers, understanding what causes progressive myopia is important. By knowing the contributing factors, we can take steps to manage and slow down its progression, ensuring our children have healthy vision as they grow. Let’s look at some factors that contribute to progressive myopia and how to manage it effectively.
What is progressive myopia?
First, what exactly is myopia? Myopia, or nearsightedness, is when distant objects appear blurry while close-up objects are clear. Progressive myopia means this nearsightedness gets worse over time. Children with myopia may struggle to read the board in school or do activities that require distance vision. These challenges can affect their learning, confidence, and overall quality of life. Several factors can increase your child’s likelihood of developing progressive myopia:
Genetics
Genetics plays a significant role in myopia development. If you or your partner are nearsighted, your children are more likely to develop myopia. This hereditary link means their eyes might naturally grow longer, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it, leading to blurry distance vision. It’s important to monitor your child’s vision if you have a family history of myopia.
Environmental factors
Modern lifestyle changes have significantly increased myopia cases among children. More screen time, less time spent outdoors, and more close-up work (like reading or using digital devices) all contribute to myopia development. These activities strain the eyes and cause the eyeball to elongate, worsening nearsightedness.
- Screen time: Spending a lot of time on computers, tablets, and smartphones requires intense focus on close objects, which can accelerate myopia progression. You can encourage regular breaks with the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, have your child look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
- Not enough time outdoors: Studies show children who spend more time outdoors have a lower risk of developing myopia. Natural light and looking at distant objects benefit eye health and can slow down myopia progression. To keep your child’s eyes healthy, you should encourage 1-2 hours of outdoor play each day.
- Near work: If done for long periods without breaks, close-up activities such as reading, writing, or using digital devices can elongate the eyeball. Your child should take regular breaks to avoid eye strain and use ergonomic furniture to maintain good posture.
Early onset
Children who develop myopia at a younger age are more likely to experience progressive myopia. Kids who develop myopia before age eight are at a higher risk of severe myopia. Younger children’s eyes are still growing, and any elongation can significantly impact vision. Regular pediatric eye exams can help our eye doctor track changes and adjust treatment plans as needed.
Inadequate lighting
Poor lighting conditions while reading or doing homework can strain the eyes. Ensuring that children have adequate lighting can help reduce eye strain and potentially slow myopia progression. Use bright, even lighting to reduce glare and shadows, and position lights behind or to the side of your child’s work area to minimize glare on screens or books. Additionally, make sure your child has a dedicated reading lamp with adjustable brightness to prevent eye strain. Natural daylight is also beneficial, so encourage outdoor reading whenever possible.
Myopia management at True Focus Eye Care
If your child has already been diagnosed with myopia, myopia management can help control its progression. True Focus Eye Care offers myopia management services in Port Richey to slow myopia progression in children. Our eye care professionals use the latest techniques and treatments, such as contact lenses for myopia control, to help manage your child’s myopia effectively. Our goal is to ensure your child enjoys clear vision and maintains good eye health as they grow, reducing the risks associated with progressive myopia. Schedule an appointment with us today to find the best solutions for protecting your child’s eyesight.