Hospiten tells us about myopia in children

Some experts are already talking about an epidemic of short-sightedness among schoolchildren. Does it really exist?

Unfortunately, it does. It is a statistical reality that is present in our practices every day. The frequency with which we see children under the age of 10 with myopia is increasing every year.

What could be the reasons for this increase?

The main cause currently associated with this increase in myopia in younger and younger age groups is our lifestyle. In other words, excessive time spent on tasks that require visual effort at near and intermediate distances: the use of devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.

What preventive measures can be taken?

Prevention is indeed the basis of medicine, and in the case of myopia there are several strategies that can be used to at least prevent or slow down the progression of myopia once it has started. Myopia control measures can be divided into 3 categories according to their characteristics:

•     Optical control: appropriate correction.
•     Lifestyle control: limiting time spent on near tasks and increasing outdoor activities.
•     Pharmacological and therapeutic control: in cases where there is a high risk of myopia progression. This includes prophylactic treatment with dilute atropine eye drops for at least one year.

What should eye care look like?

Eye care in the first years of life is a shared responsibility between paediatricians and ophthalmologists. In a healthy child with normal psychomotor development, the first visit to an ophthalmologist is recommended between the ages of 3 and 4 years.

How often should children see an ophthalmologist and how can this help to improve prevention?

From the first visit at 3 years of age, without taking into account other factors that may influence the future development of refractive errors, such as family history, it would be advisable to have a check-up every 2 years until adulthood. This would ensure early detection of myopia, appropriate correction and, of course, follow-up and control of the refractive error. If there is a family history of myopia, annual screening would be most appropriate.

What limits should be placed on the use of devices and screens?

The main limitation should be the time spent using them: avoid continuous use and only near work.

Should students’ habits be changed?

When we talk about controlling myopia by influencing lifestyle habits, we are actually referring to measures such as the following

•     Limiting the intensity and extent of near work, interrupting it with breaks of at least 10 minutes every hour and a half to two hours, during which attention is focused on looking at infinity. An example would be looking out of a window. A very important measure to prevent the progression of short-sightedness.
•     Encourage at least 2 hours of outdoor activity per day. A very important measure to prevent the onset of short-sightedness.

Myopia has a genetic basis, but has it been exacerbated by the advent of new technology?

Myopia is the result of a variable combination of non-modifiable factors, such as genetic inheritance, with other modifiable factors, such as our lifestyle habits and proper correction.