How to control the progression of myopia

We all are worried about myopia, which is increasing rapidly and it increases the risk of developing sight-threatening conditions, such as cataracts or myopic macular degeneration.

Most children are increasingly suffering from myopia, which can have an impact on their education and future prospects.

There are four main groups of factors – genetic, environmental, accommodative/vergence and peripheral retinal hyperopic defocus – contribute to development of myopia.All of these may contribute to an increase in the axial length of the eyeball and hence poor distance vision.

Identifying patients at risk of myopia and acting early can prevent or delay progression of myopia.

 

In current situation children should spend at least two hours outside each day, but this target is rarely reached – in fact, children today spend less time outdoors than ever before. Lack of sleep also is thought to contribute to myopic progression. children should have at least nine hours sleep every day.

There are few tips to follow:

*Children should not use digital screen for reading and surfing purpose.

*Maintaining more than 25 cms distance from books/notebooks while reading and writing.

*Avoid reading in dim light and sleeping position.

*Room light and its reflections should not fall over eyes while reading and writing.

*Maintaining breaks after every 45 minutes of reading and writing for 2-5 minutes and should focus at far objects (>20 feet distance).

*Avoid eye rubbing and water splash in the eyes.

*Avoid TV watching with close distance.

*Children should have outdoor activities.

*Children should expose to sun light at least 2 hours/day.

*Children should focus very far objects for few minutes every day (eg counting stars in the sky, looking at flying kites or birds in the sky etc).

*Eating nutritious food (all vegetables including green leafy vegetables).

*Drinking more water

*Looking at green plants and trees.

*Avoid warm color wall paint in living room, children room.