A high prevalence rate of myopia among children has become a major issue of concern in the world. The condition is also referred to as ‘short-sightedness’ or ‘near-sightedness’, affecting the clear view of objects at a distance. According to the recent statistics, there is also a disturbing tendency: almost 50 per cent of the city’s child population in India could be shortsighted by 2050. Such an impressive growth in the occurrence of myopia in children during the past two decades, particularly among school-going children, can be directly linked to changes in modern lifestyle. These aspects are now necessities for every parent in an effort to understand the causes of myopia in children and how to prevent it.
What Exactly Is Myopia, and Why Is It Increasing?
Myopia develops when the eyeball is overly long in the front-to-back direction, or when the cornea (the surface of the eye in front) is too highly curved. This makes the light concentrated in front of the retina rather than on the retina directly, hence leading to blurred distance vision.
This rapid rise of myopia in school-going children is not only genetic, which is a factor in sixty per cent to ninety per cent. The major increase is due mainly to changes in the environment and behaviour. As an illustration, its prevalence has remarkably increased in urban India, since it was 4.44 per cent in the year 1999, but in 2019, in certain urban centres, it has risen to 21.15 per cent. This surging rate is a signal of the dire necessity of parents to know the causes of myopia in children and take the initiative. Uncontrolled myopia progression can lead to severe, vision-threatening conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment or glaucoma.
What Are the Primary Causes of Myopia in Children?
Contemporary learning and electronic conditions are a significant cause of myopia in children. The causes of myopia in children are focused on two major behavioural determinants, which are near work overload and lack of outdoor exposure.
- Screen Time Overload.
The amount of time that children spend paying so much attention to objects that are placed flat, i.e., when reading a book, writing, or utilising digital devices, has skyrocketed. In North Indian studies, near work among children who have more than five hours a day of near work is strongly associated with greater levels of myopia. This was further aggravated by the digital catalyst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased diagnoses among children under eight by a significant number, a previously less-affected group.
- Lack of Outdoor Exposure
It is possibly one of the most influential environmental factors. The exposure to daylight is protective against myopia since it activates the secretion of retinal dopamine, a chemical that is thought to inhibit the unnatural growth of the eyeball. Children having less outdoor time are deprived of this protective mechanism. Studies indicate that, due to the academic demands and the lack of free outdoor areas, urban children tend to spend considerably less time outside than is suggested.
How Can Parents Identify Symptoms of Myopia in Kids?
Early diagnosis is crucial as the main factor in managing and reducing progression. The parents need to know about the typical symptoms of myopia in kids. Children do not tend to complain about blurry vision because they assume that everybody is able to see the world as they do.
Watch out for these major signs of myopia amongst children:
- Squinting: Frequently narrowing their eyes to see distant objects, like the blackboard or television.
- Sitting Close: Physically changing to bring the screens or reading materials closer.
- Rubbing Eyes: This is when one rubs their eyes a lot, and it means eye strain or fatigue.
- Headaches: Reports of headaches, especially following the end of protracted near work.
- Poor Performance: An impulsive deterioration of academic performance or sports performance that occurred because of the inability to see well.
When you notice any of these symptoms of myopia in kids, it is necessary to make an appointment with an eye specialist in Hyderabad to get an eye check-up in a detailed manner. The most important component of myopia control is early intervention.
How to Prevent Myopia in Children: Practical Steps
The most important role in the prevention and control of myopia is played by the parents. The prevention of myopia in children incorporates lifestyle changes that are both planned and proactive, and are recommended by an eye specialist in Hyderabad.
1.Increase Outdoor Time
This is the best behaviour intervention. Get your child to be out at least two hours (120 minutes) outside every day. The protective advantage lies in the brightness of natural light, rather than physical activity itself. This may involve a stroll, a park visit, or even reading outside. Outdoor time of 40-60 minutes of compulsory exercise has been effective in reducing the incidence of myopia in large-scale trials across different locations.
2.Implement the 20-20-20 Rule.
In near work, teach your child to take eye breaks. The 20-20-20 rule is an easy rule: after every 20 minutes, one should stare at the object that is 20 feet away and spend at least 20 seconds doing so. This eases the muscles of the eye and lowers the strain.
3.Create an Optimal Reading Distance.
Support the correct distance of reading, which is 30 cm (the distance between the elbow and the wrist). Books and devices should not be flat on a table but held at a natural position.
4.Professional Myopia Control Treatments
With myopia in children, the method of control changes to myopia control, reducing the progression. Modern and effective treatments involve:
- Low-Dose Atropine Drops: Pharmacological drugs (usually 0.01 or 0.05% concentration) employed in slowing the axial lengthening of the eyeball.
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): This involves cornea-shaping contact lenses, which are worn at night, temporarily redesigning the cornea so as to fix the gaze during the day and to prevent the increase in the length of the axis.
- Peripheral Defocus Lenses: Special Lenses A special pair of spectacles, or even contact lenses, which is made to have clear vision in the centre and defocuses the hyperopic portion of peripheral vision, which is considered to cause the eye to grow.
The visit with an eye specialist in Hyderabad will be the decision on the most individual approach to your child.
Neoretina: Best Eye Hospital in Hyderabad
We are not only an eye hospital, but we are also your friends in helping to maintain the vision of your child at Neoretina Eyecare Institute. We offer the fullest of diagnostics, the most sophisticated myopia control procedures, and the unmatched experience of paediatric vision.
Considered to be the best eye hospital in Hyderabad to treat myopia in school-going children, we provide state-of-the-art care in order to preserve their sight throughout their schooling years.
Trust the recognised leader. Book your child an urgent eye specialist appointment with one of the most prominent eye specialists in Hyderabad.
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