Causes of and corrections for nearsightedness in kids

Is your child having trouble seeing? They’re not alone. Myopia—or nearsightedness—in kids is on the rise, and screen time is a likely factor.

“Nearsightedness does tend to run in families. Kids are more likely to develop myopia if their parents have it,” explained Dr. Mohannad Al-Samarraie, pediatric ophthalmologist. “That said, we do think the increase in the number of kids we’re seeing with myopia is related to them spending more time on screens and indoors in general.”

What causes myopia?

Nearsightedness means that a person can see things up close but has trouble seeing things clearly that are far away.

“In myopia, the eye is longer from front to back, or the cornea – the clear window on the front of the eye – is more curved than it should be. This causes the eye to focus light in front of the retina, rather than on it, creating blurry vision when looking into the distance,” added Dr. Al-Samarraie.

Does your child have myopia?

Have you noticed any of the following with your child?

• Complaining of blurry vision, especially when trying to see things far away like the whiteboard at school
• Squinting to see better
• Holding books close to their face when reading
• Experiencing frequent headaches

If so, it’s a good idea to schedule them for an eye exam. The eye doctor will ask some questions about your family history of vision issues and overall eye health, thoroughly examine the structure of the eyes and conduct a vision screening to see how well your child can see. Pediatric ophthalmologists are great at making the process fun too!

Slowing the progression of nearsightedness in kids

It’s not possible to prevent nearsightedness altogether, given that it’s often inherited. With screens becoming more commonplace for learning, they can’t be avoided completely either. What CAN be done to help?

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes spent looking at a device, take a 20-second break and look 20 feet away.
• Keep devices at least two feet from the face.
• Encourage outside play, rather than tablet time or video games, after school and on weekends. This will allow the eyes time to relax and focus on objects in the distance.
• When reading, make sure your child is in a space with plenty of light. Reading in dim light is linked to myopia progression.

Can nearsightedness be corrected?

The eye doctor may prescribe glasses to help the eyes focus light in the right spot on the retina. Allowing your child to choose their frames may help get them excited about wearing their new glasses. If they play sports, consider whether sports goggles may be a good idea to avoid breaking their regular glasses.

Contact lenses can also help correct blurry vision associated with nearsightedness. They’re usually a better option for older kids and teens who can put them in and take them out on their own, use eye drops when needed and practice good hygiene to prevent eye infections.

See the full range of eye conditions our pediatric ophthalmologists care for at CHoR.