Preventing Myopia
There are several methods to preventing Myopia, they include:
- Limiting screen time
- Increased outdoor activity/exposure to sunlight
- Ball sports (ex. basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, etc.)
- Taking breaks during near work (20-20-20 rule)
- The length of the eye should be measured and monitored by your optometrist.
Now I know this all sounds pretty grim, but there is hope! Research has given us lifestyle modifications to stop the development of myopia and in preventing myopia.
Whether your child has myopia or not, taking these 3 easy steps will help reduce the development/progression of myopia:
- Children 5 years of age and older should spend no more than 3 hours (including homework) on screens.
- Spend as much time as possible outside. The more sunlight exposure a child has been correlated with less myopia. Activities such as sports involving a ball have been shown to reduce myopia development and simultaneously improve motor development and hand-eye coordination.
- For every 20 minutes of near work, a child should take 20 seconds, and look 20 feet away. This will reduce eye strain and relax their focusing system.
To see if you would be a good candidate for myopia management, call or contact us to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION.
