Nearsightedness (Myopia) (for Parents) – Nemours KidsHealth

What Is Nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness (myopia) is a vision dilemma that helps make it really hard to see distant objects clearly.

What Are the Symptoms & Signs of Nearsightedness?

Children with nearsightedness may perhaps:

• have blurred vision when hunting at factors that are not shut to them
• maintain books, toys, or other objects nearer to their encounter than usual
• squint their eyes or blink a good deal
• have trouble examining words and phrases on a chalkboard at college

What Results in Nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness transpires when light that enters the eye focuses in front of the retina rather of instantly on it. This results in blurry vision in the length.

It transpires extra generally in college-age young ones, specially preteens and teens. Nearsightedness can run in families.

How Is Nearsightedness Identified?

An eye medical professional can explain to if your child is nearsighted. They will do a regime test that generally incorporates:

• asking about indications
• getting a spouse and children professional medical historical past
• working with dilating eye drops to thoroughly open up the pupils
• examining the eyes

How Is Nearsightedness Treated?

The eye medical professional will prescribe glasses or get hold of lenses to enable your child see clearly.

How Can Mom and dad Help?

To enable choose care of your child’s eyes:

• Get eyeglasses (or get hold of lenses if advised). Permit your child enable opt for the frames. Plastic frames and polycarbonate lenses are greatest for youthful young ones.
• Help with get hold of lenses. If your child is previous ample and the eye medical professional thinks contacts are a very good selection, enable your child stick to all guidance on carrying and cleansing them.
• Go to stick to-up visits with the eye medical professional.
• Communicate with your medical professional about myopia handle. New therapy possibilities can enable gradual the progression of myopia in young children.
• Contact the medical professional if your child has new indications, which includes:
  • problems or eye discomfort
  • blurry vision when carrying glasses or contacts
  • viewing flashing lights or floating places
  • any decline of vision
• If your child wears contacts, call the medical professional for indications these as:
  • eye discomfort or redness
  • significant sensitivity to light
  • itchy or dry eyes that really don’t get much better with eye drops