When to Start and When to Stop Myopia Management in Children

Nearsightedness or myopia is a common condition. The American Optometric Association reports that about 30 percent of Americans have this condition. This includes both adults and children. It is a refractive error or vision problem that makes it difficult to see faraway objects or images.

 

What Are the Symptoms of Myopia?

If you notice that your child is experiencing some or any of the symptoms of myopia listed below, you should visit your ophthalmologist. This can help them evaluate if your little one has a refractive error and if myopia management is necessary.

 

• Sitting too close to the computer or TV screen
   

• Reading while holding books very close to the eyes
   

• Sitting closer to the board and teacher in the classroom to see clearly
   

• Squinting when watching TV or reading the board
   

• Diminished vision clarity, as compared to family and friends
   

• Lack of interest in sports that require good distance vision
  
   

When to Start Myopia Management

The simple answer is as soon as possible. According to research, the earlier your little one starts experiencing myopia, the faster their eyeglasses prescription and vision distance issues will continue worsening. If you are getting a substantial impact in slowing down the progression of myopia and reducing the final impact it has on them, you should act immediately.

 

Myopia in children is more likely to progress or worsen until you manage it. If you hesitate, waiting to see if it gets worse, you might be already making matters worse. Chances are that unmanaged myopia will progress.

 

When to Stop Myopia Management

Myopia management can stop when your little one is an adult. According to a study, about half of all myopic children stop worsening when they are about 16 years of age. However, this means the other half is still progressing. The study also showed that 75 percent will stabilize by the time they are 18, while 90 percent will be stable by the time they are 21.

 

So, for the entire learning years of your child, you and your kid’s ophthalmologist will need a myopia management plan for them. Moreover, if your child spends less than three hours on near-work activities, the progression is more likely to stop.

 

Myopia Management as They Grow

The myopia management plan prescribed for your young adult kid or older teenager may be different from that prescribed when they were younger. As they grow, their vision demands change. For instance, they may require contact lenses instead of eyeglasses when they join certain sports or just for better self-esteem. Also, their myopia management needs to change due to other factors such as longer studying hours, less sleeping time, or driving at night. All these factors will ultimately determine the best management strategy for them.

 

Conclusion

Even after your myopic little one is all grown up, they will still need to see the eye doctor regularly for eye exams. This is because higher myopia levels attract more risks to eye diseases and other conditions in their adulthood.


 

For more on myopia management in children, contact Parkside Eye Care at our office in Cary, North Carolina. You can call (919) 883-9987 to book an appointment today.