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Myopia Control in Children

Myopia (or nearsightedness) is very common. One out of two people (50%) have it. With myopia, the eye is longer than normal from front to back, or the cornea (the clear window at the front of the eye) is too steeply curved. This makes things that are far away from you look blurry. Myopia is corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery in some cases. Having myopia can increase your chances of having some eye problems later, like cataract, glaucoma and retinal detachment.

Studies show myopia is becoming more common among children. While there is no proven direct link, research suggests that children who spend more time indoors doing near-focused activities (such as computer work, video games, and reading) have higher rates of myopia than those who spend more time outdoors.

Doctors are looking at ways to slow the progression of myopia in children. While myopia cannot be reversed, the goal of treatment is to keep it from getting worse. This can protect a child’s eye health in the future, despite still needing to wear glasses or contact lenses.

What causes myopia?

Genetics: The tendency to develop myopia is a hereditary trait, so a child born to parents with myopia is naturally more susceptible to it. In some cases, short-sightedness can even progressively develop from a young age, and stabilises in one’s 20s.

Too much near-sighted work: When we perform tasks that require up-close vision, such as reading or using our smartphones, there is a lot of focus on the centre of the eye, while the peripheral vision is defocused. Prolonged periods of time performing these tasks can cause myopia. Thus it’s recommended that we take breaks after 30 – 40 minutes of near work to look at distant objects. This helps with eye fatigue and dry eyes.

Limited outdoor time: Based on studies and observations, greater exposure to natural light is significant in helping children avoid developing myopia, or slow down myopia progression. On average, Australian kids spend about 7 hours more outdoors per week than Singaporean kids. As Dr Lim recommends, encouraging outdoor activities such as bike rides or playing sports, can help your children get more ambient light exposure.