If your child has been diagnosed with myopia, then it means that they can see things nearby but objects far away look blurry. Myopia (commonly known as nearsightedness) is a condition that can affect people of all ages, and about 20 percent of children are diagnosed with this type of refractive error. In fact, myopia is the most common type of refractive error among children. The rate of myopia increases to around 50 percent of the population in the adult years.
Most of the time, children aren’t born with myopia. But this eye condition progresses as the child ages. The good news is that proactive eye appointments can enable the child to see clearly through the use of prescribed corrective lenses, such as glasses and/or contact lenses.
The shape of the eye affects how well a person can see and focus on objects. With myopia, the shape of the eye is longer between the front and back areas. Or, the shape of the cornea becomes curved. Both of these situations change the way light moves into the eye, which results in things looking blurry.
The only way to determine whether a child has myopia is to schedule an eye exam. An experienced eye doctor can perform a thorough evaluation and determine an accurate diagnosis for the child’s vision problems.
As a parent, you might notice signs of myopia before your child visits an eye doctor. The most common signs of myopia include:
If you notice these signs of myopia, then it’s a good idea to schedule an eye examination for your child.
The most common solution for treating myopia is to provide the patient with vision correction lenses that improve how light moves into the eye. For example, your child might be able to wear eyeglasses to improve their vision. As they get older, there is also an option to wear contact lenses.
Keep in mind that myopia can’t be reversed. The goal of an effective treatment plan is to help the child optimize their vision, while also keeping myopia from getting worse. Dr. Michelle Cruz at our Murrieta location specializes in treatment options to slow the progression of myopia. These options can include special contacts or eye drops.
Regardless of whether your child has good eyesight or vision problems, it’s important to maintain regular checkups with an eye doctor. Temecula Creek Optometry is here to help. Contact our team at Temecula Creek Optometry to schedule an appointment at our Murrieta office: (951) 600-9226.