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hand: five things i learned about childhood myopia on a recent trip to france
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a standard pair of glasses doesn't stop a child's myopia from getting worse, but new lens technology can significantly slow progression.
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the author participated in a media trip organized and funded by essilorluxottica, a global eyewear and vision care company. essilorluxottica had no editorial influence or control over the content of this article, including review or approval prior to publication.
as a mother of two who lives with a retinal disease, kids’ eye health has been a priority for me since my daughters were born. both of my daughters get regular eye exams and, so far, neither needs glasses.
during a recent trip to france to learn about the rising problem of myopia in kids, i was surprised to find out that it’s a more complex condition than i previously thought.
from the environmental factors that contribute to disease progression to the long-term risks of developing more serious eye conditions, a myopia diagnosis means more than just a prescription for glasses.
what is myopia?
most people know myopia by its more common name — nearsightedness — which is a literal description of how people with myopia see things. while objects held close to the face can be seen clearly, things in the distance appear blurry.
to get a better understanding of myopia, it’s helpful to know a little about the structure of a healthy eye, which is spherical. myopia develops when the back of the eye grows longer than it should, stretching the delicate retinal tissue and resembling an egg shape.
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one-third of canadian childrenbetween the ages of 11 and 13 have myopia, but symptoms often show up in the early years of primary school. holding books and screens very close to the face and squinting to see things far away are signs that a child may be having trouble with distance vision.
young children, in particular, might not have the language to communicate that they’re having trouble seeing the whiteboard in class, so the issue can sometimes manifest as a behaviour problem.
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for some kids, the idea that they’re not seeing clearly might not even occur to them because they have adapted to their blurred vision, underscoring the importance of regular eye exams to catch issues early.
what i learned about myopia
here are five things i learned about myopia during my trip to france:
- myopia can be inherited
a child’s risk of developing myopia is influenced by multiple factors, including how much time they spend focused on close-up tasks and whether they get enough outdoor time (more on that later).
genetics play a significant role as children with one myopic parent have double the risk of developing the condition themselves; if both parents are myopic, that risk can be increased by up to five times.
but the inheritance of myopia isn’t as simple as some other genetic diseases. there are
hundreds of genesinvolved in the development of the eye that are thought to play a role in the development of myopia.
the
latest researchpaints a more nuanced picture: genes predispose someone to myopia, but environmental factors may act as triggers for the onset and progression of the condition.
- prolonged screen time isn’t the only contributing factor
parents are already inundated with messages around how excessive screen time has the potential to negatively affect a child’s behaviour and development. so, knowing that the onset and progression of myopia are influenced by focusing on close-up objects for prolonged periods might immediately bring a child’s tablet or smartphone use to mind.
but while staring at these types of screens likely exacerbates myopia, any close-up work places a similar strain on the eyes. this means that generally parent-approved activities like reading books and doing homework on paper for hours at a time can also have an impact.
what to do? eye-care professionals often recommend that kids — and adults — give their eyes a break by practicing the 20-20-20 rule: look 20 feet away for 20 seconds after each period of 20 minutes focusing on a close-up task.
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- spending time outdoors is even more beneficial than you think
outdoor play has an undeniably beneficial effect on kids’ health and fitness. now, there’s one more reason to promote a daily habit of getting some fresh air: its benefits to vision health.
studies showthat the quality and type of light you’re exposed to outside is recognized differently by the eye, and exposure to this natural light could help slow the onset and progression of myopia.
“not all light is equal for myopia control,” explains coralie barrau, senior photobiology scientist and head of light research at essilorluxottica. “i can say that time spent outdoors has consistently been associated with a delay in the onset of myopia.”
though researchers aren’t sure of the exact mechanism behind this, they say that at least two hours of outdoor time each day is important for proper eye development.
- myopia can increase the risk of other ocular conditions
when a child is diagnosed with myopia, it’s simple for a trained eye-care professional to get them fitted with a pair of glasses that will correct their vision and allow them to see clearly in the distance. but just because their vision is corrected, doesn’t mean their myopia will stop developing.
myopia progression can change a child’s prescription, potentially requiring a new pair of glasses every year. aside from having a significant impact on your wallet, worsening myopia also places added risks on eye health.
high myopia increases a child’s lifetime risk of more
serious ocular conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment. there is no way to reverse myopia, so each step-up in eyeglass prescription strength increases the risk of these complications.
- it’s possible to significantly slow the progression of myopia
a standard pair of glasses doesn’t stop a child’s myopia from getting worse, but new lens technology can significantly slow progression.
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“every millimetre of eye growth we prevent reduces the risk of future blindness,” says dr. sarah grünbaum, a pediatric ophthalmologist at the french myopia institute (institut français de myopie) in paris, france.
eye drops, rigid contact lenses and soft daily contacts are all myopia control strategies that are also used. the most appropriate approach varies by child and should be discussed with an eye-care professional.
what didn’t surprise me
what’s one thing that didn’t surprise me after my deep dive into myopia? like most health conditions, earlier diagnosis is better. the canadian association of optometrists recommends that kids get their eyes checked at least once between the ages of two and five and annually for every year afterward, giving them ample opportunity to identify eye problems like myopia as soon as they show up.
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