Bangkok: In today's era, where children grow up surrounded by screens and digital devices, an inevitable problem is nearsightedness. We are increasingly finding that younger children are starting to experience nearsightedness and need glasses as early as elementary school. Information about using "nearsightedness-delaying lenses" in children is widely shared on social media, claiming they can slow the progression of nearsightedness, improve visual clarity, and reduce the likelihood of further vision problems. The question is: Is this information true?
According to Thai News Agency, the "Sure Before Sharing" center of MCOT Thai News Agency checked with the head of academic affairs at the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand and received confirmation that lenses to delay nearsightedness in children "are indeed effective."
Let's understand the mechanisms, causes, and ways to manage nearsightedness in children together in this article.
Myopia (nearsightedness) is caused by an imbalance in the characteristics of the eyeball, usually involving two main components: a highly curved cornea and a relatively long eyeball. In children, the eyeball length increases quite rapidly from birth until about 12-13 years of age. If the eyeball lengthens too quickly, nearsightedness will develop and worsen rapidly. The main causes of nearsightedness in children include genetics and behavior/environmental factors.
If a child's nearsightedness increases by more than 0.75 per year, it indicates a relatively rapid onset of nearsightedness. Currently, there are two main accepted methods for slowing the progression of nearsightedness: using eye drops to reduce focusing ability (diluted atropine) and using special eyeglass lenses (lenses to delay nearsightedness). These methods help change the focal distance of the image to fall on the appropriate area of the retina, reducing the stimulus that causes nearsightedness in children.
Research is ongoing in countries like Singapore on preventative methods, but in Thailand, eye drops or special contact lenses are only recommended for children who already have nearsightedness and whose vision is likely to change relatively rapidly.
In addition to medical technology, lifestyle changes such as taking breaks to rest eyes, maintaining distance, and increasing outdoor activities are important in helping to delay the progression of nearsightedness in children.
The information about "prescription lenses for children" is true and can be shared. It is considered an effective alternative to using eye drops to reduce eye strain. For parents concerned about their children's eyesight, the best advice is to consult an ophthalmologist. The doctor can assess which method of slowing down nearsightedness is most suitable for the child, as each child may be suited to a different treatment.