Previously, this could be seen quite rarely. children with glasses in schools. In fact, because they were the exception, many of them were bullied by their peers. Unfortunately, bullying has not disappeared. But the reasons are usually different, since glasses are the norm rather than the exception. myopia in children has increased significantly and is estimated to continue to rise, reaching 50% by 2050.
For this reason, optometrist and optometrist Flora Hui, from the University of Melbourne, published an article in Talk in which he explains tricks What can parents do to protect their children from myopia?
It is important to make it clear that wearing glasses is not bad at all. However, people with very severe myopia may develop complications over time, such as glaucoma or retinal detachment. The best way to prevent this is to prevent myopia in children and, if it cannot be avoided, at least diagnose it in time. This is why Hui’s advice is so important.
Why does myopia occur in children?
In general terms, myopia is difficulty seeing objects that are close to the observer. This usually happens because the eyeball is more elongated than usual. This structure has developed in such a way that the light reaching us from objects directly affects retinawhere the process that causes us to see images of these objects begins. When the eyeball is more elongated, light does not hit the retina directly, so images are formed, but in a much larger volume. more blurry.
This can happen for many reasons. There is a purely genetic component that cannot be prevented. genetics It is what it is. However, there are also environmental factors that significantly increase the appearance of myopia in children.
One of them is excessive use of screens. The reasons why this happens are not clear. Hui notes in his article that this may be due to the increasing use smaller screens (we’re not just talking about TV anymore), so they have to get very close to your eyes. This somehow strains the eyes, and the still developing eyeball may elongate more than it should.
In a separate article by Flora Hui published Fernandez-Vega Ophthalmological InstituteIt is noted that the eyes grow until adolescence. When a baby is born, the size of his eye 70% of what you will finally get. In fact, newborns do not yet see images clearly enough, since the light also does not reach the corresponding point on the retina.
“Before age 2, the first phase of eye growth occurs, increasing by about 4 millimeters. Subsequently, although human eye tissue develops throughout life, eye growth usually stops at the age of 14-15 years.”
Fernandez-Vega Ophthalmological Institute
What should we do to prevent these vision problems?
It seems clear that screens are a key factor. Therefore, if we want prevent myopia in childrenit should Don’t let them misuse electronic devicesespecially when they are still very small.
But that’s not all. Hui also notes the importance of children going through outdoor time. There is a growing body of research showing that rates of myopia in children are higher among those who spend less time outdoors. In fact, so far most of the blame has been placed on screens, but we must keep in mind that they are not typically used outdoors. Therefore, they may not be directly to blame, but it may be due to lack of hours of natural light.
Why this is beneficial is also not entirely clear, although it is believed that ultraviolet light This can promote good eye development under artificial light. In addition, outdoor games contribute dopamine release. This hormone is usually associated with pleasure, but it has many other effects. For example, it also seems to be associated with good eye development.
What to do if myopia in children cannot be avoided?
Sometimes, due to genetic or environmental factors that are difficult to control, myopia still occurs. In this case, it is important to detect it as early as possible, since the time that babies spend without glasses to correct your vision increases the risk of complications in the future.
However, Hui notes that glasses are not the only solution. There are also some hard contact lenses which are placed in the eye overnight and help return it to its normal shape. He even mentions the usefulness atropine drops. They have few side effects and somewhat slow the progression of myopia. In any case, if you want to use them, it is best to consult an ophthalmologist first.
We always talk about myopia in children because since this is the stage of greatest growth of the eye, it is usually then first symptoms. Preventing or slowing symptoms in adults is usually more difficult because they have already progressed significantly. But logically, spending time outdoors and reducing screen use also gives us many benefits. It is also the best way to set an example for the little ones in the house. These are all benefits.
Source: Hiper Textual
