Myopia is a refractive error that can develop in childhood or later during a person’s life. It is the most common and fastest growing refractive error of the eye, so it’s important to prevent its development, if possible. Today, your vision therapy specialist from The Myopia Institute discusses eye care habits to delay the onset and progression of myopia in children:
Good Eye Habits
You have to monitor the time spent by your child on continuous writing, reading or any other activity that requires near vision. Limit their time spent playing hand-held computer games or smartphone games and get them to take regular breaks after continuous close work. When reading, your child should be in a well-lit environment, sit upright in a comfortable chair and keep a comfortable distance between their eyes and the book. When using the computer, your child should have adequate lighting and the computer screen shouldn’t be too close to their eyes.
As a vision correction specialist, we recommend encouraging your child to spend time outdoors. Studies have found that an average of two to three hours a day of outdoor time for younger children can reduce the risk of myopia.
The Myopia Institute recommends taking safety precautions when outdoors. Make sure your child drinks plenty of water and avoids going out during the hottest hours of the day. Apply sunblock on their skin and have them wear sunglasses to protect their eyes, as well.
How We Can Help You
The Myopia Institute mission is to improve the quality of life for children with progressive vision changes and to provide patients with easy-to-understand and accurate information about myopia control. The methods we recommend are proven and backed by peer-reviewed studies. We also provide an online directory so patients can easily find a myopia specialist nearby.
Even if you have not developed myopia, it is still important to get a regular eye exam to check for visual health. Many early signs of eye conditions are unnoticeable and can only be detected by an eye doctor and their special equipment. Call us at (301) 363-0060 to learn more about our services. We serve Chicago, IL, Washington, D.C., and other areas.