Myopia is more commonly referred to as shortsightedness, or the inability to see objects clearly at a distance.
Myopia can worsen as your child’s eyes continue to grow.
The reason objects are blurry in the distance with shortsightedness is because the eye becomes longer as the child grows.
How does it affect the eye?
Clear vision
Blurry vision
Research shows that myopia is on the increase worldwide. Is it the computer generation?
What is to blame?
So what could be attributable to other reasons? Top of the list of suspects is the modern lifestyle and genetic factors.
Family history plays a role in your child’s risk of myopia. The likelihood of children developing increases if their parents are myopic
Modern children spend a lot less time outdoors and a lot more time with their heads in books, or more likely tablets and lap-tops. It is thought that these changing life style patterns are disrupting the circadian rhythm of the body…also known as “the body clock”. Exposure to light plays a big part in this, again, studies show that children under the age of 2 who were put sleeping in rooms with the light on showed a much higher prevalence of developing myopia.
Myopia management today could mean less worry tomorrow
If you’ve happily worn glasses or contacts all your life, it might seem excessive to start managing myopia in children as young as eight years of age. However, worsening myopia may contribute to more severe eye health complications and sight-threatening conditions later in life, including:
- Retinal detachment
- Myopic maculopathy
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
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