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Myopia Control for Kids

The layman’s term for myopia is ‘short-sightedness’, where one can not see well in the distance. The main cause of progressive myopia is due to the eyeball becoming longer towards the back of the eye. It’s like a balloon being blown up, the larger it becomes, the more fragile. It is the same with the eyes.

Tears can occur in the delicate retina causing retinal detachments and potential blindness. Areas of the retina can die off leaving islands of vision loss. If one of those islands occur in the central vision area, the eye is blinded. Eventual blindness is the major concern for young myopes. 

Research has come up with some interesting interventive procedures to try and stop or reduce the eye’s axial lengthening. Creating blurriness towards the visual periphery while maintaining central clarity has been proven to help. Reducing digital media viewing, mobiles, computer games and work; increasing the time spent outside playing; even having a few blocks of dark chocolate a day with its flavanols has been shown to help in certain cases. A systematic approach using the above will determine a successful outcome. Many children’s eyes have been positively impacted using myopia control.

Children should be brought in for a general check-up very early in life, before they are able to read letters, as it is essential to identify children at risk BEFORE the damaging process takes hold. We will be happy to guide you as a parent in this regard. Don’t wait to make an appointment for your child’s eyes to be examined.