Nearsightedness can be experienced by anyone, from children to adults. However, compared to adults, children are more susceptible to experiencing faster minus increases. Even so, the severity of this nearsightedness can be prevented early on in several ways. Nearsightedness or nearsightedness occurs when vision becomes blurry when looking at objects that are far away. This condition is caused by the shape of the eyeball being longer or the surface of the cornea being more curved than it should be, so that the eye cannot focus the incoming light properly.
Myopia can be inherited from parents who also have the same condition. Usually, children start to suffer from myopia when they are 8-12 years old and it can get worse when they are teenagers. Until now, there is no way to treat myopia, but there are only efforts to reduce the symptoms. People who suffer from myopia are also known to be at higher risk of experiencing various vision problems, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and even blindness. Therefore, myopia needs early treatment so that it does not develop into something severe and complications do not occur.
How to Prevent Myopia from Getting Worse
There are several things that can be done to prevent myopia from getting worse, namely:
- Increase outdoor activities
The habit of looking at electronic device screens excessively, such as mobile phones, televisions, or computers, can worsen myopia. Therefore, outdoor activities are more recommended to rest the eyes. Research states that increasing outdoor activities is believed to prevent myopia from getting worse. Parents also need to limit the time spent playing gadgets, namely 1 hour for children aged 2–5 years and 2 hours for children aged 6–12 years.
- Consuming good nutrition for the eyes
Consuming nutritious foods is also necessary to maintain eye health. Some nutrients that are good for the eyes include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega 3. These nutrients can be obtained from fish, eggs, carrots, oranges, almonds, and milk and its processed products.
- Have regular eye checkups
Performing regular eye checkups with an eye doctor aims to monitor eye conditions and prevent worsening of myopia. It is highly recommended to have your eyes checked at least once or twice a year. As for children, eye checkups should be done when they are 6 months, 3 years, and 6 years old.
The Effectiveness of Glasses to Prevent the Progression of Myopia
People with myopia need to use glasses with minus lenses to correct blurred vision. The use of certain types of minus lenses, such as defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS), is known to be effective in inhibiting the increase in minus in the eyes. This type of minus lens can be used specifically by children as a group that is vulnerable to experiencing rapid minus increase.
If you or your child have difficulty seeing at a distance, you should have this checked by an eye doctor. The doctor will recommend a visual acuity test, then prescribe the appropriate size and type of lenses if glasses are needed.
