Parents want their children to have the best possible vision and eye health. However, you might notice that your child is struggling to see distant objects clearly or squinting more often. This could be a sign of myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness. Myopia is becoming increasingly common in children and, in some cases, can progress rapidly. Understanding what causes progressive myopia in children is essential for managing this condition effectively and ensuring your child’s vision remains as clear as possible. 

What is myopia? 

Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long from front to back, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. This causes blurry vision when looking at distant objects while close-up objects are clear. Progressive myopia means the condition gets worse over time, which can lead to significant vision problems and increase the risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life. 

Causes of progressive myopia 

Several factors contribute to the development and progression of myopia in children. These include: 

• Genetics: Myopia often runs in families. If one or both parents are nearsighted, their children are more likely to develop myopia. The likelihood increases if both parents are myopic. 
• Too Much Close-up Work: Spending too much time reading, writing, or staring at screens up close can make myopia worse. The more time kids spend on these activities, the higher the risk. 
• Not Enough Time Outdoors: Studies show that children who spend more time outside are less likely to become nearsighted. Sunlight and looking at distant things during outdoor play help keep eyes healthy and prevent myopia from worsening. 
• Poor Lighting: Poor lighting while doing close-up work strains the eyes and can make myopia worse. Make sure your child has good light while reading or using devices to reduce this risk. 
• Eye Strain: Doing a lot of close work without breaks can strain the eyes and contribute to myopia getting worse. Encourage your child to take breaks to rest their eyes. 

Managing progressive myopia 

While we can’t reverse myopia, we can slow down its progression and protect your child’s vision from more serious eye health issues in the future. Scheduling regular pediatric eye exams helps catch myopia early and keeps track of how it’s changing. Early detection means we can start treatment sooner. We can prescribe glasses or contact lenses that correct your child’s vision and help them see clearly. 

There are also treatment options to help slow down myopia progression. If you’re looking for myopia management in Pittsburgh, our eye doctors offer treatment options such as orthokeratology and multifocal lenses. Orthokeratology (or ortho-k) are special contact lenses worn at night to reshape the eye and provide clear vision during the day without glasses or daytime contact lenses. This process also helps slow the elongation of the eye that leads to progressive myopia. 

Multifocal lenses are another effective treatment option for myopia control. Unlike traditional lenses that correct vision for near or far distances, multifocal contacts have different zones that provide clear vision at multiple distances. This design not only improves vision but also helps reduce the rate at which myopia progresses. 

In conclusion, understanding what causes progressive myopia in children is the first step in managing and preventing it from worsening. If you’re worried about your child’s vision or myopia, schedule a visit with Pittsburgh Primary Eyecare today. Together, we can work to protect your child’s eyesight and keep them seeing clearly for years to come!