Why Start Your Child on Myopia Management Early

Myopia is a condition of nearsightedness where the light entering your child’s eye focuses on the front of their retina instead of directly on it. An individual with myopia requires contact lenses or eyeglasses to see properly. This common eye issue also affects the reflective section of the eye.
 

In terms of common eye ailments, myopia is prevalent in approximately 40 percent of Americans. The numbers are still rising especially in children. Research shows that the prevalence is on an upward rise for now. 
 

Up to one in four children in every American family experience the condition. The reason is that most kids spend time in activities that involve looking at objects that require close vision. These involve computers and smart mobile devices. These activities cause eyestrain and headaches and result in early myopia.

 

When To Start Myopia Treatment

Currently, there is no medical requirement for when to begin treatment of myopia in your child. However, the recommendation is to start treatment as soon as you detect the condition. This means that when your pediatric ophthalmologist diagnoses your child’s vision at > - 6.00, start treatment. 
 

Starting treatment early reduces your child’s chances of experiencing long-term reactions. Some of these include macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. These are conditions that can cause permanent blindness if you do not seek early treatment.

 

When Are Your Kids at a High Risk of Myopia?

The highest risk chances of myopia affect kids who receive the diagnosis when they are below seven years of age. The truth is, the younger they are, the higher their chances of having long-term myopia. This means that the earlier the diagnosis, the better their chances of avoiding the condition. If your child has myopia, there are higher chances of myopia increasing during puberty or adolescence.
 

Early diagnosis means that the doctor has more time to observe the progression of the condition before it is too late. The early diagnosis during these years increases the chances of prevention of myopia before progression.

 

Is Early Prediction Possible

It is possible to detect your child’s early myopia progression. There are early prediction methods that eye doctors use to detect the condition. Your doctor can find the refractive error in their eyes from as early as when they are three years old. Their refractive index changes as they age and your doctor can document it. The catch here is that if they are suffering long-sightedness, it may corrupt the prognosis.

 

Is Early Myopia Preventable

Research shows that spending time outdoors under normal weather affects your baby’s vision. It helps them to grow a protective membrane over the eyes that can delay or stop childhood myopia. If your child has early signs of myopia, letting them spend time outdoors helps. This is a preventive measure that may save your child’s eyesight.
 

Other preventive measures include a low dose of atropine. This can help slow the progression of myopia once the diagnosis is true.

 

For more information on myopia management, visit Planet Vision Eyecare at our office in Lake Worth, Florida. You can also call (561) 556-4600 to book an appointment today.