What is Short-sightedness?
Imagine a world where children can’t see the chalkboard from the back of the class.Myopia or Short-sightedness is an eye condition where one is unable to see the far objects. But able to clearly see the near objects clearly. In this condition, the shape of your eyeball increases abnormally. In this condition, people experience blurry vision of distant objects though able to see clear vision clearly. At the present time, the number of myopia patients is increasing day by day.
However, the effects of this disease were mostly observed among kids and adolescents. In the present time the increases in screen time, genetic reasons, early schooling, lack of nutrition or changing lifestyles were the reasons that the number of these diseases was increasing in the present day.
This National Myopia Week (14th-20th November 24), #AllEyesonMyopia – a national drive to raise awareness of childhood myopia
Let’s focus on safeguarding vision and shaping a future without blurred boundaries. #NationalMyopiaWeek #EntodPharma #ReduceScreenTime #LessScreens pic.twitter.com/UwCdd9DP86
— Entod Pharmaceuticals (@EntodPharma) November 7, 2024 A global epidemic: Myopia is skyrocketing.
In the present time, nearsightedness is no longer a common type of disease. In the present time, it was considered as a global health crisis. In the present time, it is skyrocketing worldwide. Especially in the region of East Asia or South Asia. Myopia in kids was observed in China and in Taiwan around 100 per cent of adults reported this disease. Along with this in India kids or adolescents the number were increases day by day.
The symptoms were mainly observed among the kids of urban areas as they were engaged with different digital gadgets which affected the eyesight of the kids. It was reported that school-going children of Delhi over the age of 15 years reported this disease which was around 5.7 per cent.
A Deeper Dive into Myopia Causes
Why are our children losing their sight? It was a common concern among parents in recent days. There were several reasons behind this lifestyle, genetics, and environmental factors were the main causes behind this. In the era of digitalisation, it was seen that at an early age, kids were using different digital gadgets like mobile phones, laptops or tab which they use for different reasons like for studying or other entertainment purposes.
They spend more time on the screen which affects their eyesight. However, myopia in kids was high in urban areas kids in comparison with urban areas kids. Therefore, kids in the present day avoid outdoor activities and due to this, they are not able to be exposed to sunlight.
Moreover, studies explain that the kids which were spent more time outdoors were less myopic. Along with this inadequate lighting is also a common reason for this disease for which you are required to ensure that your kids are in proper lighting area to avoid the symptoms of this disease. Moreover, if parents or siblings have this eye condition then it is common that the kids also have this condition for a genetic condition. Additionally, in the present day air pollution or diet is also a major reason for myopia in kids were high in number.
Remedies to Combat Myopia in Children
Let’s give our kids a clear future. Through these remedies, you can improve your kids’ vision. You need to encourage your kids to increase their outdoor activities every day. In this situation, you can reduce the time duration which were they spent on screen. Moreover, it was helpful for the kids to be exposed to natural light further it supported them in distant focusing. However, these outdoor activities were helpful for the children to prevent this condition.
Moreover, you as a parent are required to focus on the time duration of how much your children are in front of the screen especially while reading, writing or playing video games where they are required to focus on things. This will help to improve their eyesight and its health. Additionally, you need to ensure that your kids have enough lighting for reading, writing or other indoor activities. In that way, you can ensure that your child does not get this disease.
Along with this regular eye check-ups were essential for the kids to monitor their vision or to detect any changes in their eyesight. Additionally, in the present time vision therapy is also considered as an effective therapy to improve the eye sight focusing therapy or overall visual function. Moreover, early detection of myopia is helpful to avoid worsening this situation. However, it was essential to be aware of the latest research to prevent this situation. Glasses or contact lenses were helpful to counterpart this situation. However, content lenses were a better solution for kids than traditional glasses. Conclave lenses which have the ability to diversify the light were effective in managing this condition.
Moreover, diet is also essential to improve eye health. It was right that there is no right or definite diet to fight myopia. Still, if you provide this type of food to your kids it will improve the eye health of your kids those were carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and other fruits and vegetables; these were rich in vitamin A which were essential for eye health. Salmon, mackerel, tuna, flaxseeds and walnuts were rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This was helpful for your kids to reduce inflammation in the eyes. Oysters, meat, and whole grains contain Zinc which is helpful for better function of the eyes and improve its development process.
Additionally, Antioxidants are essential for the eyes which help to protect them from damage you can provide fruits and vegetables like blueberries, strawberries, and spinach to your kids. Through offering this type of nutrients you can provide a balanced diet to your kids which is further effective in improving the overall health of your kids or adolescents along with eye health.
Myopia symptoms
Do you want to know the symptoms of this disease to take steps for your child’s vision? Then you need to analyse the things like if your child is squinting or holding objects close to their face. It means they trying to focus on the things to see clearly as from a distance it appears blurry to them from a distance. Along with this if your child in a continuous basis bumping over things. This disease affects the depth perception of things. Screen time is a major factor for which kids in recent days experience headaches or eye strain. These were the common myopia symptoms which were observed among kids in the present day.
Moreover, in this situation, you can experience that your child may face difficulty in seeing or reading on the blackboard from the back of the classroom. If your child came to you and said this thing. You need to consult with an expert as it can be the reason for this Short-sightedness disease which was required for early medication. In many cases, it may observed that kids or adolescents with this disease avoid outdoor activities. In these cases, kids prefer indoor activities to avoid focusing on distant activities or to glare at sunlight. These were the common myopia symptoms which were observed among kids or adolescents.
You need to consult with a Pediatric ophthalmologist about the eye health of your kids if you notice something unusual or your kids complain about constant blurry or itchiness in your eyes.
FAQ
What is myopia, and why is it becoming more prevalent among children?
Myopia, or short-sightedness, is an eye condition where you can see objects clearly up close but have difficulty seeing objects far away. The increasing prevalence of myopia among children can be attributed to various factors, including increased screen time, reduced outdoor activities, genetics, and environmental factors.
What are the common symptoms of myopia in children?
Symptoms of myopia in children often include:
Squinting or holding objects close to the face
Frequent tripping or bumping into things
Headaches or eye strain
Difficulty seeing the blackboard or other distant objects
Avoiding outdoor activities
How can I prevent my child from developing myopia?
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent myopia, encouraging a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk. Here are some tips:
Increase outdoor time: Aim for at least 2 hours of outdoor activity per day.
Reduce screen time: Limit the time your child spends on digital devices.
Ensure proper lighting: Provide adequate lighting for reading, studying, and other indoor activities.
Regular eye exams: Schedule regular eye check-ups for your child to monitor their vision.
Consider vision therapy: This may help improve eye function and reduce the progression of myopia.
Can glasses or contact lenses help prevent myopia?
While glasses or contact lenses cannot prevent myopia, they can help manage the condition and prevent it from worsening. If your child has been diagnosed with myopia, their eye doctor will prescribe the appropriate lenses to correct their vision.
Are there any dietary changes that can help prevent myopia?
While there is no specific diet that can prevent myopia, a healthy and balanced diet can support overall eye health. Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can provide essential nutrients for eye function.
When should I consult an eye doctor about my child’s vision?
If you notice any of the symptoms of myopia in your child, or if they have a family history of the condition, it’s important to consult an eye doctor for an evaluation. Early detection and treatment can help prevent complications.
