5 things you should be doing to help your child’s myopia

​Myopia is on the rise, it is reaching level higher than before. The numbers in the UK and the west have doubled over the past 2 decades. In the Far East, over 90% of 18-year-olds are myopic. ^{1, 2}

Parents are concerned. We overwhelmingly acknowledge that wearing glasses makes a huge impact to learning, about 40% of children are self-conscious with glasses or do not like wearing them. ³

However, the real problem starts much later. The risk of serious and potentially blinding conditions such as damage to the retina, glaucoma and cataract and is significantly higher as the amount of myopia increases. ^{4, 5, 6, 7}

What should you be doing to help your child?

Get outdoors

Children are spending less time outdoors than before. Being outdoors, in the presence of sunlight has a protects the eyes against myopia ⁸. A child should be spending at least two hours a day outdoors.

Hold books or devices further away

The research shows that the increased effort required when reading material is held too close can increase the amount of myopia ¹⁰. The distance between your child’s knuckle and the elbow (the Harmon distance), is the same distance they should be holding a book.

Take breaks from close work and device use.

It is vital to take breaks from lots of near work and look to the distance. This will relax the muscles used by the eyes to read. The muscles that turn the eyes in and those that focus the lens inside the eye. It’s the tiredness of these muscles that causes eye strain and drives more myopia. The easiest thing to remember is 20/20/20. Focus on an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Taking a 10-15-minute break every 50 minutes also helps to improve concentration as well as helping muscles of the eye.

Sleep

A recent study found that a lack of sleep increases the progression of myopia ¹¹. Children should be getting between 9-11 hours of sleep every night.

Speak to an expert in myopia control

There is now lots of scientific research, studies and treatments that show the progression of myopia can be slowed substantially. Central Vision Opticians are one of the leading practices in the world offering reliable, safe and proven treatment options for myopia control. Call us now for more information about how to protect your child’s sight.