Refractive vision disorders persist in youngsters, with studies predicting that one in every four children requires vision correction to correctly see. In addition, myopia is the world’s most common refractive eye problem.
Myopia, like other refractive eye diseases, is caused by an irregular eye shape. The eyeball of toddlers with myopia is somewhat longer than normal, causing light to be focused in front of the retina rather than directly on it. This causes distant things to look blurry and out of focus. Myopia commonly occurs in childhood during a period of fast growth. Your youngster may try to compensate for their nearsightedness by moving closer to the board at school or sitting close to the television at home.
While prescription glasses or contact lenses are incredibly effective in correcting the vision of persons with refractive vision disorders such as myopia, many children question if they will need to wear glasses or contact lenses indefinitely. One of the most frequently asked questions from parents is, ‘Will my child overcome myopia?’ Unfortunately, myopia is one of the few eye conditions children are unlikely to outgrow.
Myopia is almost often inherited. This indicates that if either parent has myopia, the child is more likely to get it. This risk increases dramatically if both parents are myopic. Myopia is also progressive, so their eyesight will almost likely deteriorate if they do not receive therapy. If you or your child’s other parent has myopia, it’s very vital to get frequent eye exams for your child to discover any refractive vision problems as early as possible.
While your child will not grow out of myopia, there are things you can do to assist delay its advancement. This is significant because persons with severe myopia are more prone to develop visual issues later in life, as well as a variety of eye disorders such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Slowing Myopia Progression in Children
The most important thing you can do to help delay myopia progression in children is to ensure that they wear their prescription glasses or contact lenses daily. Bifocal glasses have been demonstrated to be particularly efficient at slowing myopia progression, especially when used with atropine-containing eyedrops.
There is, however, another method for myopia control. Orthokeratology, or ortho-k for short, is a technique that employs specially constructed contact lenses to gently reshape the eyes while you sleep, rearranging them into a more normal pattern. Ortho-k contact lenses are comprised of a specific gas-permeable polymer, making them safe to wear overnight. Then, your child takes them off in the morning and does their business as usual. Because the eyes can learn to keep their altered shape, children who utilise this type of myopia control can see all day without prescription eyeglasses with regular use. This will be discussed with you by your ortho-k or eye doctor.