Nearsightedness (or myopia) is incredibly common in people of all ages. But if you feel like you’re seeing more people wearing glasses lately, you might be right. Rates of myopia have nearly doubled in the U.S. in the past 30 years — including among children.
Myopia occurs when the eyeball grows too long, causing the lens of the cornea (the clear outer part of the eye) to curve too much. This curve affects the way light shines and focuses on the retina (the layer of cells that converts light into the brain signals that make up your vision), making objects in the distance appear blurry.
Signs of myopia in children
Older children will typically notice and complain about their blurry vision. They might say that they have trouble seeing the front of the classroom or that the picture looks fuzzy when they go to the movies.
But in younger children, you should be alert for more subtle signs that they’re having trouble with their distance vision. These might include:
- Holding books, tablets or toys close to their face
- Rubbing their eyes
- Sitting close to the television
- Squinting or concentrating when trying to see something in the distance
If you think your child might be nearsighted — or if a routine vision screening at school or the doctor indicates they are — you should seek out an eye doctor. An ophthalmologist (medical doctor specializing in eyes) or an optometrist (who specializes in eye exams and prescribing glasses or contacts) can diagnose your child’s vision. If necessary, they’ll prescribe corrective glasses or contact lenses.
Why is myopia in kids becoming more common?
Nearsightedness is often genetic. Children whose parents are nearsighted are more likely to experience myopia. But genetics alone doesn’t explain why rates of myopia in children are rising, with more children needing correction for nearsightedness.
One theory is that all the time children spend bent over phones, tablets and computers is affecting how their eyes develop. Focusing on close-up screens for hours a day may lead to changes in how the eyes function. Instead of being able to easily toggle back and forth between near and far vision, the distance vision becomes permanently blurry.
How to prevent nearsightedness in kids
Screens are an inevitable part of our lives — and our children’s lives. But there are ways to counteract the negative effects of screen time on your kid’s vision. For example:
- Encourage outside activities: Spending more time outdoors in natural light is the perfect antidote to excessive screen time. Getting your kids outside and away from screens each day will help their eyes develop properly and stay healthier.
- Limit screen time: Babies and young children (younger than 18 months) should not have any screen time, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Toddlers and preschool-age children should have no more than an hour a day. For school-aged kids, try to limit screen time as much as possible beyond what’s required for schoolwork.
- Take frequent screen breaks: Encourage your kids to follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look up from the screen for 20 seconds and focus your eyes on something about 20 feet away.
You may not be able to prevent myopia in your child, but you can teach them good habits that will keep their eyes healthy.
