THE average age at which most children develop myopia is around 7 years old, but it is getting increasingly younger. It's no surprise today to see even preschoolers wearing spectacles.
In Malaysia, research shows that the prevalence of myopia and refractive error is the highest among Chinese primary schoolchildren.
Vision Space Optometrist director and optometrist Woon Pak Seong says independent studies suggest a wide variation in the prevalence of myopia among regions and ethnic groups, with East Asians exhibiting a myopia rate more than twice as high as their white counterparts of a similar age.
The incidence of myopia is also concentrated in East and Southeast Asia, with South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China and Japan recording myopia prevalence rates of 80 to 90 per cent.
A combination of genetic components, lifestyle and other environmental factors, including reading habits, have contributed to ethnic disparities in refractive error, says Woon.
Impaired vision may have a substantial impact on a child's learning process. Blurry vision may translate to suboptimal academic performance in school.
"The first signs or symptoms of myopia can manifest in various ways, and recognising these early indicators is crucial for timely intervention," says Woon.
"Children may experience blurry vision when they try to focus on distant objects. This blurriness can make it challenging for them to see things clearly, particularly at a distance."
Children with myopia may find themselves squinting or partially closing their eyelids in an attempt to improve their vision.
In addition to blurry vision and squinting, myopia can cause discomfort such as headache and eye strain.
Woon says children with myopia may also struggle to see content on whiteboards or screen projections in the classroom.
Younger children, on the other hand, may not be able to express their vision difficulties, but they may develop behaviours that suggest difficulties with vision. These behaviours include persistent squinting, excessive blinking, frequent eye rubbing and a tendency to sit very close to the television.
"Parents and caregivers who notice these signs should take their children for an eye examination to assess for and manage myopia. This will help ensure their child's visual health and wellbeing are protected," says Woon.
RAPID INCREASE
Some children may experience a progression in myopia due to genetic reasons such as a family history of myopia.
In addition, after their diagnosis, some children may continue to experience significant eye strain when they spend large amounts of time looking at a screen, engage in near-work activities, or have little outdoor exposure to sunlight.
"The increase in myopic power is concerning to parents because it can be more rapid compared with their own myopic increase and has a higher prescription compared with theirs," says Woon.
A recent global study, he says, has shown that the percentage of children with myopia and high myopia increased during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Malaysia, during the Movement Control Order, teaching and learning went online. This meant that children had to look at laptops and computers all day.The different screen sizes of these devices make near-tasks a challenge, says Woon, adding that it typically results in longer viewing times.
Excessive amounts of time spent on near-tasks accelerated the progression of myopia during the pandemic.
If children are already myopic and wearing spectacles, parents can look into myopia control lenses, says Woon.
"Myopia can be corrected with standard single-vision lenses to provide clear and sharp vision. However, single-vision spectacle lenses do not help manage myopia by slowing down its progression."
He says myopia control lenses, on the other hand, have been shown to slow down myopia progression in children by 67 per cent on average compared with single vision lenses when worn for at least 12 hours per day every day.
"It's also helpful to visit an optometrist every six months for an eye examination to get your child's axial length monitored."
SLOWING PROGRESSION
• Increase outdoor time
Spending more time outdoors has been shown to lower the risk of myopia development.
• Be mindful of time spent on near-work activities
These include reading, using electronic devices, studying and screen time. Maintaining a proper distance can alleviate eye strain and contribute to slowing down myopia progression.
• Adhere to the 20-20-20 rule
Take a break after every 20 minutes of near-work, during which you should gaze at something located more than 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This practice can help relax eye muscles and prevent myopia from worsening.
• Consult an eye care professional for solutions
These include myopia control spectacles, myopia control contact lenses, orthokeratology, or low-concentration atropine to help manage myopia effectively.
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