Myopia in children is increasing at a worrying rate. The trend is global and could affect half of the world’s population by 2050. Filipa Teixeira, responsible for the department of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the St. Mary’s Hospital, highlights the importance of early diagnosis, changing habits and specialized monitoring to protect children’s eye health.
Myopia in children is increasing at a worrying rate, and Portugal is following this trend. In recent decades, epidemiological studies have shown an increase in the prevalence of myopia throughout the world, and it is estimated that, by 2050, around half of the world’s population could be myopic.
Myopia, which is characterized by a difficulty seeing far awayresults from excessive growth of the eye in length. The earlier myopia appears, the greater the likelihood of progression to moderate or high degrees. In accordance with international consensus, including the the progression of myopia deserves special attention, especially when it appears early.
But why is myopia increasing?
The explanation has to do with several factors. THE Genetics plays an important role: Children with myopic parents are more likely to develop the condition. However, genetics do not change in a few decades, what has changed is the lifestyle. To the Children today spend much more time on near vision activitiesparticularly due to excessive use of cell phones or tablets, extended reading and intensive study. At the same time, children undergo less time outdoors. Scientific evidence shows that exposure to natural light has a protective effectprobably through biological mechanisms in the retina that regulate ocular growth.
What can we do to stop the progression of myopia?
The first measure should focus on changing lifestyles. It is recommended at least two hours a day outdoorsincluding for example the practicing sports. Exposure to natural light has a protective effect against myopia and should be encouraged from an early age. At home and at school, it is essential to promote good habits. THE Reading and writing must be done with adequate lighting and maintaining a minimum distance of 30-40 cm. Regarding the electronic devices, the time of use must be controlled and adjusted to the child’s age. They must be done frequent breaks and always ensure adequate distance from the screen and good lighting of the environment.
Currently there are still medical treatments to control myopia progression. Of particular note are ophthalmic lenses or contact lenses with peripheral blurring technologies, which induce mechanisms that control the stretching of the eye. Additionally, low-dose atropine eye drops can also reduce progression.
More than correcting vision, the objective is protect future eye health. High myopia is associated with greater risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, among others in adulthood.
The message is clear: Regular eye exams in childhood make it possible to detect myopia early, assess the risk of progression and initiate appropriate strategies. In a context where myopia is increasing, prevention and specialized monitoring by a pediatric ophthalmologist are fundamental to protecting the vision of future generations.
Article written by Filipa Teixeira, ophthalmologist responsible for the pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus department at Santa Maria Hospital, theguest assistant at the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon
