Myopia, or nearsightedness, is becoming increasingly common among children. With myopia, children can see objects up close but struggle to see things farther away. For example, if your child is nearsighted, they may not be able to read a blackboard until they’re a few feet away. They may also squint frequently, complain of headaches, or feel tired after playing sports or doing any activities where they need to focus on distant objects.
With myopia on the rise, it’s important to understand the risk factors and potential treatments for this vision problem. In this blog post, we’ll explore the most common causes of myopia in children and how myopia management can help slow its progression.
Common causes of myopia in children
Eye experts still don’t fully understand what causes myopia in children. However, both environmental and genetic factors seem to play significant roles in the development and progression of myopia. If one or both parents have myopia, there is an increased risk that their children will develop it as well. Additionally, spending too much time focusing on close objects such as books may also contribute to myopia.
Excessive screen time has also been associated with a higher risk of myopia. Children today spend hours each day looking at screens such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and televisions. Recent studies show that there is a link between increased screen time and myopia or other issues like eye strain, blurry vision, and headaches. Encouraging kids to play outside regularly and limiting screen time can help reduce the chances of developing myopia and promote healthy vision.
Myopia management for children
If your child has been diagnosed with myopia, it’s essential to explore treatment options that can help manage this condition and slow its progression. Traditional glasses and contact lenses can correct their vision but won’t stop myopia from getting worse over time. At Lawrenceville Family Eyecare, we offer myopia management services in Lawrenceville, Georgia to help control the progression of myopia. Myopia management techniques such as orthokeratology (ortho-k), special multifocal lenses, and atropine 0.1% drops are effective in slowing down the progression of myopia in children.
Early intervention is key to managing myopia in kids. By catching vision problems early and taking appropriate steps to treat them, you can lower the risk of more severe forms of myopia and associated eye conditions later on. If your child shows signs of myopia or has a family history of nearsightedness, schedule an appointment with our team at Lawrenceville Family Care for personalized care and expert guidance on managing their vision needs.
