Prevention tips on myopia

Viewing objects from closer distance：

Children view objects from a closer distance. When watching TV, reading or playing with electronic products, they need to get closer to see things clearly.

 

They can only see items clearly by closing the distance. This is because the eyes are in a state of abnormal adjustment and tension spasm. On the one hand, such condition may result in pseudomyopia, and on the other hand, it is likely to cause visual fatigue and accelerate the formation and progress of true myopia.

 

Squinting, frowning, tilting the head, and often pulling the corners of the eyes：

These behaviors can make the eyelids cover part of the pupils, and help things to appear more clearly. Similarly, tilting and looking up can also change the refractive state of children's eyes, so that they can see more clearly.

 

Always rubbing their eyes, blinking frequently:

Frequently rubbing their eyes may aggravate children's myopia and astigmatism.

 

It is recommended that parents take their children to a hospital or optometry practice for an eye examination if any of the abovementioned signs appears, which will include vision, fundus, eye axis and diopter, to eliminate the possibility of organic diseases of the eyes and pseudomyopia. A mydriatic or pupil-dilating test is a diagnostic examination method that plays an important role in the prevention and control of myopia in children.

 

Mydriatic test: Children's ciliary muscle adjustment ability is very strong. If cycloplegic agents are not used during the test, and the child is in the stage of pseudomyopia, the results may be inaccurate as they could include some data of pseudomyopia. A mydriatic test can relax the ciliary muscle, and the result is more objective and reliable.

 

Myopia diagnosis: Once the child is diagnosed with true myopia, they should cooperate with ophthalmologists to correct it.

 

Outdoor activities of two hours per day or 14 hours per week:

 

It is better to exercise outdoors for two hours every day, which can prevent myopia. Outdoor activities in the sun can effectively increase dopamine in the eyes and the thickness of the choroid, slow the change of the eye axis and control the development of myopia.

 

Control the time and distance of eye use: 

 

Babies under three years of age should try not to use electronic products. Apart from ensuring two hours of outdoor activities every day, children aged three to six should not use electronic products for more than one hour every day and for not more than 15 minutes each time.

 

When using a projector, pay attention to the screen resolution. Effective contrast sensitivity can make children see more clearly. It’s recommended that the viewing distance should be three to four times the diagonal length of the screen.

 

Create a good reading environment. Make sure they do not use their eyes for a long time or at a close distance in a dark environment.

 

Keep a healthy reading and writing posture: Keep the eyes one foot (≥ 33 cm) away from the book, keep the body one fist (6-8 cm) away from the table, and keep fingers one inch (about 3 cm) away from the pen tip.

 

Don't read books or check cellphones when lying or in a moving vehicle.

 

Balanced diet and adequate sleep: Lack of sleep may affect the eyes through the endocrine, neurological, immune and other systems, thus leading to uncomfortable eyes and l the decline of children's eyesight.