Blog #47 More Myopia than ever
The pandemic again. We have been busy at Burlington Eyecare since
June, 2020. We are just starting to get
caught up on the backlog of appointments and have seen several trends during
this unprecedented time, most relating to the inordinate amount of time we now
spend on our screens: virtual schooling, work from home, zoom time... We have seen a lot (a LOT) of dry eyes, but more
worrisome is the increase in myopia in children.
Myopia = nearsightedness, the inability to see
clearly in the distance.
More children have myopia than ever before. The
main reason is environmental. Children
learn increasingly in near environments and consequently the eye trends to an
increase in myopia. This has been
happening for a while. The pandemic, however, has been the perfect storm
causing a huge increase in screen time, school and leisure, and now a huge
increase in the development of myopia
and in the degree of myopia. , Recently the CBC pointed out this development.
How can we prevent or slow the development of
myopia in our children? (Note: Some children will develop myopia no matter what
the parent does, this is genetically determined. We are discussing
environmentally induced myopia.)
- Control screen time.
- Space out the screen time, taking
scheduled breaks during the day.
- Hold devices further out; this
reduces strain to the eyes.
- Replace screen time with outdoor
activity when possible.
At Burlington Eyecare we encourage parents to bring
their children in for their first eye exam as early as six months of age. We then see the child annually or as needed
if symptoms arise. All during their
early years parents and teachers are instructed to watch for symptoms of
myopia: squinting, blur at distance, headaches. The optometrist will track the
refractive state of the child and watch for any significant changes.
Between 6 and 15 years of age, there are a
variety of treatments to slow myopia, ranging from soft bifocal contact lenses,
orthokeratology-night lenses, specially designed spectacle lenses, and finally
low concentration atropine drops. If
these interventions would be helpful, your optometrist will discuss the best
option for you and your child.
Once again, do not hesitate to call our office
and arrange a visit for your child.
Til next week,
the good
doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Optometrist
