Myopia or Nearsightedness in Children
Children often have a progressive form of myopia
(nearsightedness) that worsens throughout childhood, but their
vision is easily corrected with eyeglasses, and it usually
stabilizes when they reach their 20s.
What Causes Myopia (Nearsightedness)?
Nearsightedness, medically called myopia, is the inability to
see objects at a distance clearly. In people with myopia, the
eyeball is slightly longer than usual from front to back. Light
rays which make up the images you see, focus in front of, rather
than directly on the retina, the light-sensitive part of the
eye. When this happens, objects at a distance seem blurry and
unclear.
Progressive myopia or nearsightedness is predominantly caused
by genetics. Children inherit a tendency to develop myopia from
their parents. The manner in which a person uses their eyes may
also have an influence on the progression of myopia. Recent
studies link myopia with performing detailed or up-close work,
such as reading a book too closely.
How Do I Know If My Child Has Myopia?
A child with myopia may complain of headaches, eyestrain, and
fatigue when having to focus on something more than a few feet
away. Most often, young children with myopia only complain of
difficulties seeing things far away. A child with myopia may
move closer to objects to see clearly. If your child complains
of any of these symptoms, make an appointment with an eye
doctor. [link to Eye_Doctors.doc]
In addition, make sure your child is examined in the first
year of life, at age three, and every two years afterwards,
especially if there is a family history of progressive
nearsightedness or other eye conditions.
How Is Myopia (Nearsightedness) Treated in Children?
It is still controversial whether progressive myopia in
children can be slowed down. Some recent studies suggest that
the use of atropine combined with bifocals slows the progression
of myopia.
A child with myopia can wear eyeglasses . They can also start
wearing contact lenses when they are physically mature enough to
take care of them. Often this depends on how involved the
parents are in caring for the contact lenses. Pediatric
ophthalmologists rarely recommend contact lenses before a child
enters his or her
teens.
Talk to your child's eye doctor to find if contact lenses can
help your child.
Can Myopia Be Prevented?
Since nearsightedness is inherited, it is not possible to
totally prevent its occurrence. However, there are steps you can
take to minimize its effect. Make sure your child is examined
early, especially if there is a family history of progressive
nearsightedness or other eye conditions. If it is uncomfortable
to do work or watch television from a standard distance, your
child may already be developing nearsightedness and needs an
examination.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute.
Edited by
Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, WebMD, October 2004.
Last Editorial Review: 6/21/2005
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