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Myopia or near-sightedness means that the child can see close things clearly but has difficulty seeing things at a distance. It is generally thought to start from 5 to 15 years in children and is a benign condition. However, sometimes the usual treatment fails to focus on attempting to halt or slow its progression. The risk of Myopia increases by 2 times if one parent is Myopic and by 3 times if both the parents are Myopic. It is a well-established fact that children become Myopic at an early age and its severity may occur in childhood leading to an increased risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, etc1,2.

Could Myopia and its progression be the next epidemic in India?

Prevalence of Myopia in India

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Over 40%

of India's
youth is at risk of
developing Myopia3

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8.5%

in urban children4

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6.1%

in rural children4

Causes and risk factors of Myopia

Myopia occurs when the eyeball is slightly longer than normal from front to back. In a child with normal vision, light rays that make up the images focus directly on the retina and form a clear vision. When the child is Myopic, light rays focus in front of the retina, causing blurry and unclear vision.

Genetic and environmental risk factors5
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Ethnicity

Parental
education
level

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Intensive
near work

Socio
economic
status

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Body stature

Level of physical
and outdoor
activity

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Low birth
weight

Parental
myopia

Parental myopia icon showing myopia genetic and environmental risk factors
Smoking icon showing myopia genetic and environmental risk factors

Parental
smoking
history

Lack of
breastfeeding

Lack of breastfeeding icon showing myopia genetic and environmental risk factors

Signs and symptoms to look out for Myopia includes6?

  • Holds books, toys, or other objects closer to their face than usual
  • Squints and frowns
  • Frequent blinking
  • Lacks interest in outdoor activities or sports that require distant vision
  • Faces difficulty in reading words on a chalkboard in school
  • Complaints of headache or tired eyes
In the case of families with a history of Progressive Myopia, it is advisable
to take the child for a vision check-up at 6 months, 3 years and before the first grade7.
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Ways to slow down Myopia Progression8:

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Ways
Technique
Low-dose atropine eye drops
Atropine eye drops are used to widen pupils in the eye exam. The drops may decrease the progression of Myopia in children when administered in small doses for 2 to 3 years.
Peripheral defocus contact lenses
These special lenses are worn by children of 6 to 12 years. The center of the lens corrects blurry vision, while the outer portion blurs the peripheral vision.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
It is a type of lens that the child wears overnight to correct distance blurry vision during the day. By flattening the cornea, the light directly falls on the retina.

Steps to take care of at home to slow down the progression9-11:

  • At least 90 minutes - Ensure the child spends more time outdoors.
  • Computers and digital devices - Limit screen time.
  • Reading and homework - Not more than 3 hours on close work.
  • Using a computer - Make sure it's in the right place to avoid eye strain and the child. takes 20-second breaks every 20 minutes by gazing across the room.
  • Eye check-ups – Regular tests will allow for quicker intervention necessary to manage Myopia Progression.
Vector image of eye test showing Steps to take care of at home for myopia

References: