Myopia, which is also commonly known as short-sightedness or near-sightedness is a condition where near objects appear clear and distant objects appear blurry. It occurs when the eyeball elongates excessively, causing light to focus in front of the retina.
Myopia is a growing global concern, particularly in Asian countries such as Singapore, where an increasing number of children are becoming myopic at a young age.
Early management of myopia in children is essential to protect their long-term vision.
Squinting or narrowing the eyes to focus
When looking at distant objects such as classroom whiteboards or TV screens.
Sitting very close
To screens or devices very near the face.
Complaints of blurry vision
Your child may report that faraway objects like words, signs, or faces are blurry.
Reduced attention to distance activities
Tilting or turning their head when viewing distance objects
Noticing the signs early means your child can get their eyes checked sooner!
Family history
Genetics have been shown to play a role. A child's risk of developing myopia increases significantly if one or both parents are myopic.
Insufficient outdoor time
Natural sunlight stimulates a chemical that helps regulate healthy eye growth. Children who spend less time outdoors are at a higher risk of developing myopia.
Excessive Near-Work
Spending prolonged, uninterrupted hours looking at digital screens, reading books, or doing any kind of near activities.
Regular eye checks can help your eye doctor spot and manage myopia early!
Correcting myopia is important for normal visual development and this can be
achieved with the use of glasses. However, specialised treatments are now available
to control the rate of myopia progression which can be rapid, especially in younger
children. This is important as high myopia associated with excessive eyeball
elongation can increase risks of developing sight-threatening conditions (such as
retinal detachment and glaucoma) in adulthood, despite having laser corrective
vision procedures.
These treatment options all work by reducing the rate of eyeball elongation:
Specialised glasses
That use special lenses to provide clear central vision while creating a peripheral defocus by subtly altering peripheral vision. This peripheral defocus slows down the eyeball's elongation.
Soft daytime dual focus contact lenses
These are daily disposable contact lenses that feature distinct optical zones that correct day-to-day vision while actively sending signals to the eye to slow down its growth rate. Again, its use is advised only in older children.
Lifestyle changes
In addition, children should be encouraged to practice healthy eye habits (*the 20-20-20 Rule) and to spend at least 2 hours a day outdoors in daylight.
Orthokeratology lenses
Rigid contact lenses that are worn while sleeping and reshape the cornea overnight. This simultaneously slows down eye growth and allows for clear vision in the day, though its use is limited in younger children and is only appropriate for older children with strict hygiene habits.
Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops
These eyedrops are usually applied once a night and are prescribed and supervised by an eye specialist, have been shown to be highly effective in slowing myopia progression.
Every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen or book, have your child look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds
Early intervention is important in managing childhood myopia progression. If you have noticed any of the symptoms described above or if there are any concerns about your child's vision, you can book an appointment with our specialist.
Healthy eye habits that start young can last a lifetime!
