Nearsightedness or myopia is a common eye condition that affects younger individuals. Regular visits to your eye doctor can help in its early detection and treatment. You are not alone if you’ve noticed that your child’s vision is getting worse. Many parents wonder what causes their little one’s myopia to progress and what they can do to help.
Continue reading to discover what causes myopia to worsen in children.
One of the most common types of refractive errors is myopia. It occurs when the eyeball grows too long from the front to the back. This eye condition can also happen when the cornea gets too curved, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. As a result, distant objects appear blurred while nearby ones look clear.
Myopia typically begins to develop in childhood and often progresses into adulthood. Some factors cause it to become worse. For instance, you’re more likely to have it if your parents are also nearsighted.
Natural Eye Growth or Genetics
Natural eye growth is a common reason behind myopia progression. The eye often elongates as it grows, resulting in a reduction and focus power and an increase in myopia. It has something to do with genetics, meaning it’s unpreventable.
Never Taking a Break From Glasses
Failure to take breaks from glasses or contact lenses can result in progressive myopia. Constant correction can weaken the eye muscles, affecting vision over time. It will help to frequently rest your eyes from wearing contacts and glasses.
Too Much Screen Time
Nowadays, children are spending more time than ever in front of screens. Screen time can contribute to the progression of myopia, whether it’s watching TV, playing video games or using a computer. The blue light these screens emit can harm the eyes and should be limited as much as possible.
Not Spending Enough Time Outside
Exposure to natural sunlight is essential to good eye health. It helps strengthen eye muscles and prevent myopia. Encouraging your child to play more outside can help ensure they get the daily sun they need.
Not Having the Right Lenses
If your child is already wearing glasses or contacts, it’s vital to ensure they have the right prescription. Incorrect lens power can worsen myopia. It can cause your little one to experience headaches and eye strain. To avoid this issue, be sure to visit your eye doctor regularly.
Undetected or untreated myopia can increase the risk for other eye conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts and retinal detachment. In children, it can negatively impact performance in school, play and everyday activities.
Eye exercises and vision therapy can help strengthen the eye muscles and delay myopia progression. Atropine drops can also help but can have side effects, such as light sensitivity and blurred vision.
If you’re concerned about your child’s vision, it’s best to consult your eye doctor. At Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic, we can help determine the ideal vision correction option for your little one. Call us at (425) 771-8472 (Lynnwood) or (425) 485-0430 (Bothell). You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve patients around Redmond and Kirkland, WA.