Is your child's vision getting worse over time?
Have you been wondering why this is happening and what can be done about it?
An Increase in eye size (or rather length) is the most common reason why children have deteriorating nearsightedness during young age, which can progressive at a fast rate. This can be measured with a biometer and is expressed in millimetres.
A whole range of treatments are available to reduce the rate of myopia progression.
Those options include:
* Daily Diluted Atropine Eye Drops
* Orthokeratology
* Soft Multifocal Contact Lenses
* Increased Time Spend Outdoors
* Behavioural modifications such as avoiding reading too close and less screen time.
The treatment options can be combined in young children who rapidly progress in order to achieve successful myopia retardation.
Visit our practice to find out more about helping your child and preventing fast visual deterioration.
Myopia risk
Myopia: short-sightedness in children and adolescents on the rise
When it comes to the spread of myopia some studies already speak of an epidemic. The well-known Brien Holden Vision Institute has forecast that by the year 2050 one out of two individuals could be affected by myopia. That is alarming, and it makes it more than clear that early detection and control of myopia are becoming more and more important. For there is no other way to effectively reduce the risks of myopia in children and adolescents.
Numbers speak a clear language
A comparison illustrates the rapidity of this development: In the year 2000 22.9% of the global population were affected by myopia and 2.7% had high myopia beyond -5 dioptres. According to Brien Holden's forecast, by 2050, 50% of the world's population could be myopic and at least 10% could be suffering from high myopia. The development is also dramatic within Europe. According to data recently presented by the European Eye Epidemiology Consortium, more than 47% Europeans between 25 and 29 years of age are myopic
Risk of severe eye disease on the rise
Those affected also have a greater risk of developing severe eye disease such as cataract or retinal detachment and eventual blindness. This development is all the more alarming as more and more of its victims are young .