Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common condition that’s generally diagnosed before age 20. Nearsightedness affects your distance vision, meaning you can clearly see objects that are near however, you can find it difficult to see objects that are farther away, such as reading a road sign.
Experts like Dr. Chandrashekhar B Kale Senior Consultant, Pediatric Ophthalmology & Squint, Head – Clinical & Academics at Wavikar Eye Institute, Thane, say that the best myopia management involves a multi-pronged approach to slow its progression. Children need to focus on early lifestyle changes like more outdoor time, less screen time, etc., for improvement in vision.
What Happens in Myopia?
These are the changes that happen in a child’s eye in Myopia:
1. Too Long Eyeball (Known as Axial Elongation)
The eye in children grows longer than normal from front to back; think of it like stretching a balloon too much. This causes the entering light rays to focus in front of the retina instead of on it, leading to blurry distant objects.
2. Too Steep Cornea or Lens Curves
The clear front surface (known as the cornea) or inner lens allows the light to bend more sharply than normal. This extra bending pushes the focus point ahead of the retina, leading to nearsighted blurriness.
3. Light Does Not Focus Correctly in the Retina
The light falls in front of the retina instead of on it. This causes the incoming rays from far away to converge before reaching the retina’s light-sensitive layer, leading to far images becoming blurry.
4. Gradually, Retina Can Stretch Thin
As the eye elongates rapidly in children, the back lining (retina) stretches and becomes thinner over time. This can increase the future risks, such as tears or detachment, if ignored.
5. The eye’s white coat (Sclera) gets Weakened & Remodeled
Too much near work changes the structure of the eyes, which can lead to unchecked growth, accelerating myopia in growing kids.
6. Choroid Layer Becomes Thin
The vascular layer situated behind the retina gets squeezed thinner during elongation. This can hamper nutrient flow and growth signals in children, speeding the progression.
7. Changes in Eye Muscle
Myopic children have larger ciliary muscles (which hold the eye lens in position) than non-myopic children. This indicates that the ciliary muscle may have an impact on or be affected by refractive error development, like Myopia.
Myopia Treatment in Thane
Currently, there is no permanent cure for myopia. But the Best Eye Specialist in Thane suggests comprehensive care to slow the progression or rate.
A. Non-surgical Options
- Eye Exercises
- Glasses
- Contact Lenses
- Atropine Eye Drops (Low-Dose)
- Specialized Spectacles
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
B. Lifestyle Changes
- Increase Outdoor Time
- Reduce Near Work
- Follow the 20-20-20 Rule (meaning in every 20 minutes near work, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.)
C. Surgical Options (Reserved for Specific Cases)
Surgery is generally recommended for children above 18 years of age. However, in extremely rare situations, it can be done in children also – LASIK.
Surgery can reduce the dependence on glasses and improve the vision quality. However, it cannot stop myopia progression or axial elongation in growing kids.
Let’s explore how eye exercises can help in the management of myopia in children in the next section.
How Eye Exercises Help in Children’s Myopia Management
Eye exercises can help in the management of Myopia in children in the following way:
- Help decrease eye strain due to long screen time or near work.
- Help in better focus or eye muscle strength.
- Encourage better blood circulation.
- Help alleviate myopia-related symptoms.
What is the List of Eye Exercises
Here is the common list; consult your Eye Specialist for personalized care
- Pencil push-ups
- Near and far focus (Accommodation)
- Palming
- Blinking
- Imagine a large figure 8 on the floor. Then slowly encourage your kid to trace with the eyes, then reverse direction.
- Eye rolling
What Eye Exercises Can Do
- Can be a part of comprehensive management of Myopia
- Improve focus
- Promote relaxation
- Help reduce eye strain
What Eye Exercises Cannot Do
- Cure for Myopia
- Reverse Myopia progression
- Replace professional treatment and procedure
- Permanently improve vision
Why Is Eye Surgery Not Considered for Myopia in Children?
Best Eye Specialist in Thane may not consider surgery for Myopia in children below 18 years old because of the following reasons:
- Eyeball length is still developing.
- Surgery corrects current refraction but does not stop axial elongation.
- There are better non-surgical alternatives for them, as mentioned above.
Conclusion
Early detection is the best management option; observe if your child is squinting, sitting too close to the TV/books, frequently rubbing their eyes, or having headaches. If yes, timely consult your Myopia Specialist in Thane, Mumbai, at Wavikar Eye Institute for the detailed diagnosis and treatment option.
Concerned about your child’s vision?
Book an appointment with our Myopia Specialists at Wavikar Eye Institute today for a comprehensive eye check-up.
Contact us:
Call: +91 93555 29217
WhatsApp: +91 77100 55123
Email: contact@wavikareye.com
This content is medically reviewed by the Ophthalmology Team of Wavikar Eye Institute, a trusted healthcare provider in diagnosing and managing eye conditions. All content is medically reviewed to ensure reliability and clinical accuracy.
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and is not a replacement for professional advice. Contact your eye doctor for the right management of myopia in kids.
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