Understanding Myopia: Early Detection and Management Strategies
Myopia (nearsightedness) is a condition in which close-up objects look clear but distant objects appear blurry. Myopia is common, affecting approximately 30% of the population, and “by 2050, the prevalence of myopia is estimated to increase to 50% of the world’s population” (Optometry Canada).
Fortunately, there are measures you can take to manage or detect its presence. Regular check-ups, lifestyle changes, and specialty lenses play an important role in addressing myopia. What’s more, Carrington Optometry offers myopia management in Calgary!
Myopia Management: Early Detection
Myopia often develops in childhood and can progress throughout the school years. Since signs and symptoms of myopia are not always noticed by children and parents, regular check-ups are critical for early detection. This helps mitigate the impact on your child’s learning.
Carrington’s Optometrist uses axial length measurements to provide objective data, helping to diagnose myopia regardless of your child’s ability to verbalize visual difficulty. Axial length measurements can be used to assess myopia risk even before glasses are needed allowing for proactive interventions. These regular check-ups also establish a baseline for your child’s vision, allowing our Optometrists to track and identify any irregularities.
Regular check-ups facilitate prompt intervention for myopia, which can help slow the progression or reduce the risk of future complications.
Worried about your child’s risk? Take the Myopia Risk Quiz!
Myopia Management: Lifestyle Changes
Prolonged screen time emphasizes focusing up-close which can cause muscle fatigue, lead to eye strain and change the growth pattern of the eye. Alternatively, spending time outdoors exposes children to natural lighting and varying distances, which supports eye health.
If screen time is necessary, it’s important to establish proper ergonomics. The top of the computer screen should be just below eye level, the screen should be tilted to avoid glare, screen brightness should match ambient lighting, screen distance should be approximately an arm’s length away, and you should follow the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at an item 20 feet away for 20 seconds).
Ergonomics vary per individual, however, an optometrist can provide custom tips for school or workplace setup.
Myopia Management: Appropriate Treatment
There are many interventions that can help in the management of myopia. Specialized therapies at Carrington Optometry include soft contact lenses, specialty glasses, medicated eye drops, and orthokeratology (contacts worn at night with no glasses or contact lens wear during the day).
Treatment should fit your child’s lifestyle, and help slow the progression of the condition. The earlier the interventions are implemented, the more successful management is.
In addition to treatment, a healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and good quality omega-3s can help support overall eye health.
Take charge of their eye health, book a check-up now!
The Take-Home Message
Regular check-ups, lifestyle changes, and appropriate treatment are crucial for myopia management. Establishing a baseline for their vision, limiting screen time, and adhering to their treatment plan are great ways to mitigate the risk. If you need an optometrist in Calgary for myopia management, book at Carrington Optometry!
References:
Canadian Association of Optometrists. Myopia (Nearsightedness) | Canadian Association of Optometrists. Retrieved from https://opto.ca/eye-health-library/myopia-nearsightedness