More and more children are becoming myopic. And according to current projections, half of the world’s population will be affected by this eye disease within 30 years. The head of the ophthalmology department at the Poitiers University Hospital, Nicolas Leveziel, explains how to reduce the onset and progression of myopia in young people.
– Why doctor: According to a recent study carried out in China, the number of children affected by myopia at 6 years old tripled after the first confinement in 2020. Have you also noticed an increase in cases in recent months?
Nicolas Leveziel : We know that myopia is gaining ground in children. But, after the periods of confinement, an increase in cases of myopia in children similar to that observed in China has not been clearly observed in France. The reason is simple: ophthalmological monitoring is difficult to set up in schools, which is not the case in Asia. Steps to establish monitoring in schools, in order to have data on the prevalence of myopia in young people, are currently underway with a referring doctor from the rectorate. In France, there are approximately 20% of myopic children aged 12 years.
– What are the effects of myopia?
This disorder is a refractive error. Myopia is characterized by poor and blurred vision from afar while near vision is preserved. The eye of a myopic child is longer than normal and the image is no longer formed on the retina but in front of the retina, hence the need to wear corrective lenses to focus the image on the retina .
– How does myopia arise?
To date, two causes of myopia are known. The first is heredity. A child is two to three times more likely to be nearsighted if his parents are. Environmental factors can also promote the occurrence of this vision disorder. Close work on screens and less outdoor activity contribute to the development of this eye condition.
– How can parents detect myopia in their child?
A few signs can alert parents. If their child squints to look into the distance, it may indicate that they have myopia. Parents have the opportunity to test their child’s sight in a simple and effective way. They can ask them to read a sign located in the distance or to describe a bird on the branch of a tree located at a certain distance, for example.
– When should you consult?
When a child complains of not seeing the painting, seeing blurry or when he brings his face closer to his books and notebooks, his parents must take him to an ophthalmologist so that the practitioner can measure the refraction of his eyes. For children, it is advisable to be screened by this specialist before entering the CP.
– What methods can slow down the development of myopia in children?
There are ways to curb myopia and you should not deprive yourself of them! The sooner they are implemented, the more the evolution of the eye disorder will be slowed down. Among the optical methods, we find the frenating glasses. These glasses, which are prescribed by the ophthalmologist and sold at the optician, can be worn by myopic children. They reduce the progression of the pathology by 60% and reduce the risk of infection.
Orthokeratology is another option. This is the wearing of rigid lenses at night. This treatment, which deforms the cornea, is recommended from the age of 7 or 8, when children are able to respect hygiene rules, such as hand washing. Orthokeratology is contraindicated in cases of dry eye syndrome, lens intolerance, ocular herpes or corneal abscess. Wearing these lenses at night means that you don’t have to wear glasses during the day.
There are also soft lenses to wear during the day that slow down the development of myopia. But just like orthokeratology, this technique is not recommended for young children who are not yet able to apply hygiene measures.
Another possibility: to reduce the progression of myopia thanks to diluted atropine, of which it is necessary to use a drop every evening in each eye. Children can use this method from the age of 6 or 7 for a year before having a check-up. Parents must obtain the prescription from their treating ophthalmologist at the hospital.
– How to prevent your child from becoming myopic?
To prevent myopia in children, children are advised to do outdoor activities in daylight for at least two hours every day. And we recommend that parents take care to reduce the time of exposure to screens and keep them more than 35 cm from their children’s eyes.
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