✓ Myopia in children: when and how to notice it

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Myopia in children: when and how to notice it

If you have vision problems, you may be wondering when to go monitor your children, who may have inherited some ailments from you. There myopia in children it can be discovered in the early years and the intervention is important before primary school starts.

What it means to be nearsighted

First of all let's clarify what it means to be nearsighted: if you are affected by myopia you are familiar with this problem, but if it does not concern you you may need some guidance to better understand what it is. A myopic person, adult or child that is, sees blurry distant objects. It's a vision defect which cannot be cured, but only corrected, through the use of glasses with negative lenses (or contact lenses), the use of which allows you to focus on distant images.

The child and myopia

Il child is more likely to be nearsighted whether one or both Parents I am, because this vision defect has factors hereditary, even if it doesn't just depend on that. Generally, one becomes aware of myopia when entering school, because the little one does hard to read the blackboard, in fact the specialists recommend a check by the ophthalmologist within 6 years (in some cases it is even provided by the health company).

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How to tell if the child is nearsighted

Il hereditary factor should not be underestimated: if one or both parents have an important history of myopia, it is good to have the child checked already in the first years of life, at the entrance to the nursery school. It is also useful to observe the behavior of the little one: if squint often or bring the objects near the face to see them better (for example books), he might struggle to focus images from a distance because of vice of refraction: The light rays coming from the environment are not focused as they should by the retina. Often children are unable to communicate the problem, because they know no other way of seeing, so do not trust their words but consult a specialist.

How is myopia treated in children?

La myopia in childrenunfortunately, it does not care, because it is due to particular characteristics eye. It comes though correct through the use of negative lenses (glasses or contact lenses), thanks to which the child can to focus even distant images. Many ophthalmologists however they agree that only the cases above the diopter need glasses: if your child is "missing" less than one diopter, it may be time to wait and see how it develops. But this point depends a lot on the specialists, so in case of doubt we advise you to listen to more than one opinion and then decide what to do. In general, however, the myopia in children is correct albeit mild, unlike astigmatism o hyperopia, because it has a more relevant impact on academic performance (precisely due to the difficulty of following certain jobs, such as those on the blackboard or on distant screens).

Read also: Vision defects in children: when glasses are needed

Do glasses for myopia need to be changed?

- glasses for myopia they need to be changed, but you don't need to do it every year. Sara the ophthalmologist to indicate how often to renew the check-up and, on that occasion, will tell you whether or not this is the case replace the lenses. Doctors have competed in expecting significant changes, and not to buy new glasses for a loss of 0.25.

Tv and other screens: consequences of myopia

How many times have we also heard ourselves say "don't watch TV up close, you will go blind"? Today, with the even perpetuated use of several screens, moreover close to the face (such as phones, tablets...) one wonders even more about the consequences that exposure to these tools can have on the sight of children: in reality it seems that lifestyle in general to have caused a worsening and more cases of myopia, in particular the less time spent outdoors (hence also the increase in schooling!).

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La myopia in children it is a widespread defect that can appear even before the start of the Primary School: correct it with the use of special lenses it is essential above all so that the child does not experience the discomfort of not seeing well, which could affect his own academic performance.

SOURCES

Myopia and other vision problems in children

Disorders of refraction in children

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