8 Tips on How To Reduce Myopia Progression

What is Myopia?

Myopia in kids is known as nearsightedness or shortsightedness. It increases the risk of glaucoma, cataract, and other eye issues later on. The younger a kid experiences myopia, the speedily it progresses and results in a higher myopia level.

Failure to get a myopia treatment can decline the performance of your kid in school. So, it is essential as a parent to care for your little one by visiting the optometrist at least once a year. The most effective way to control the disease is to get myopia control. It helps in making childhood myopia progression slower.

Myopia Symptoms in Children

Below are the myopia symptoms:

• Frequent rubbing of eyes and headache.
• Blurry vision.
• Blinking of eyes.

Tips to Minimize Myopia Progression

Below are the best steps you can take to reduce myopia progression in your kids:

1) Lower Eye Strain

WHO advises kids under five years to spend one hour or less daily in front of the digital screen. Also, infants under one must not stay in contact with the screens.

So, ask your kid to take frequent breaks from looking at the screen of handheld digital devices. The breaks can be 5 to 10 minutes every half an hour. Also, avoid holding the electronic devices too close. It allows your eyes to get proper rest and helps in reducing myopia progression.

Instead, you can motivate your little one to play outside. Even studies have shown that children that spend more time in the sun have less risk of getting myopia.

2) Eat a Well-Balanced Diet

Encourage your kid to consume a healthy diet that helps you boost your eye health. It includes fruits, veggies, leafy greens, fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and foods high in vitamin C, zinc, antioxidants, zeaxanthin, vitamin A/beta carotene, vitamin E, and lutein.

3) Avoid Smoking

Smoking is a bad habit that can affect your eyesight and even those nearby you. Thus, it’s better to avoid it to reduce myopia progression.

4) Begin Early

High levels of myopia bring the risk of eye diseases and even vision impairment in the adult stage. As you know, the most effective method to control any disease is to prevent it by taking action at the earliest. If you or your partner is nearsighted, visit our myopia doctor in Calgary to get professional advice and treatment.

Once myopia is stable, your kid still requires a regular eye exam to manage their eye health. Have the first eye examination of your kid between 6-12 months. A yearly eye examination helps in diagnosing myopia at the earliest stage.

5) Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology effectively treats myopia in children and kids. It includes wearing special contact lenses while sleeping. These lenses are known as ortho-k lenses.

They mold the cornea into a new shape and resolve existing refractive floss. This helps in treating myopia. In the early morning, the patient can eliminate these lenses and carry out their standard routine with clear vision.

6) Make Your Eyes Safe from Sun

When you step outdoors, always wear sunglasses. It will shield your eyes from harmful UV rays and reduce myopia progression. If you think that your little one is having myopia symptoms, talk with our Mahogany eye doctor immediately. The expert can provide a vision screen and suggest the next steps for your kid.

7) Do Not Ask for Undercorrected Lenses

Many people request undercorrected eyeglasses as a solution for myopia. But there is no proof available that shows that the approach works. So, rather than doing this, you must visit our eye doctor at Premier Eye Care – Mahogany regularly to ensure that your kid’s prescription has not changed. Remember, wearing undercorrected glasses for a long time could make the eye condition worse.

8) Spend More Time Outside

Motivating your kid to spend more time outside in the sun protects your kid’s vision as he/she grows and limits myopia. It’s because the sun’s ultraviolet rays alter the molecular structure of the cornea and sclera. This maintains the shape of the eyes effectively.

Visit an Eye Clinic Near You

There is no cure for myopia. But getting myopia control treatment early can reduce the myopia progression in adulthood and adolescence. Call us or schedule an appointment with Premier Eye Care for myopia control in Calgary!