Has your child been squinting to see the board at school, holding books too close to their face, or showing other signs of vision problems? They might have myopia, also known as nearsightedness. Myopia is becoming more common in kids, and many parents wonder what causes this condition—and more importantly, what they can do about it.
Although the exact causes of myopia aren’t completely understood, it’s thought to be influenced by both genetics and environmental factors. Let’s take a closer look at why kids might develop myopia and what you can do to help protect their vision.
Genetics plays a role
One of the biggest factors in whether a child will develop myopia is family history. If one or both parents are nearsighted, there’s a good chance their child will be too. While we can’t change genetics, knowing about the risk early means parents can take steps to prevent or slow myopia progression.
Too much screen time and close-up work
Kids today spend a lot of time on screens, whether it’s tablets, phones, or computers. While screens themselves aren’t the problem, excessive time spent focusing up close can contribute to myopia. Reading for long periods without breaks can have a similar effect. The eyes adapt to focusing on nearby objects, which can make distance vision blurrier over time.
Not enough time outdoors
Did you know that playing outside can help protect your child’s vision? Studies show that children who spend more time outdoors in natural light are less likely to develop myopia. The exact reason isn’t fully understood, but it’s believed that exposure to sunlight and looking at distant objects help slow the progression of nearsightedness.
How can you help protect your child’s vision?
If left unmanaged, myopia can contribute to more serious eye problems later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. All of these issues can lead to significant vision loss. That’s why it’s important to monitor and manage myopia in children early on to help protect their long-term eye health.
While some myopia risk factors, such as genetics, can’t be changed, there are ways to slow down myopia progression:
- Encourage outdoor play – Experts recommend that children spend about 90 minutes outdoors each day, though the ideal time may vary based on their age and the weather.
- Have them practice the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, have your child look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
- Schedule regular eye exams – Early detection is key to managing myopia effectively, so it’s important to schedule regular pediatric eye exams.
If your child has myopia, there are advanced treatment options like orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses and myopia management programs that can help slow its progression. At Clarin Eye Care Center and Coral Gables Eye Care, our experienced eye doctors provide myopia management services in Palmetto Bay, Florida, and Coral Gables, Florida. Are you concerned about your child’s vision? Schedule an eye exam with our myopia specialists to explore the best options for protecting their eyesight!