Short-Sightedness in Children: Signs, Causes, and Treatments

Children are often at risk of developing vision problems. This is because of their rapid eye growth and development. One such condition is short-sightedness, also known as myopia. 

Myopia is a common eye disorder that causes distant objects to appear blurry. This is because of the eye’s inability to focus appropriately on faraway objects. It is the most common refractive error among children. There are approximately 30%  of children suffer from this condition.

Therefore, this article discusses the signs, causes, and treatment of short-sightedness in children.

Treatment of Short-Sightedness in Children

The treatment of short-sightedness in children is usually done by wearing glasses. They can also wear contact lenses. You can get prescription glasses online for your child at an affordable price. These corrective lenses allow the eye to focus properly on distant objects. Thus, reducing blurriness.

 Other treatment options include:

Laser eye surgery

Using laser eye surgery is another treatment option for short-sightedness in children. This procedure reshapes the cornea to allow light entering the eye to focus on the retina. This reduces or eliminates nearsightedness. 

There are two options for laser eye surgery: 

• LASIK®. The LASIK® procedure is a laser eye surgery that reshapes the cornea. This corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. During LASIK®, an excimer laser makes precise cuts in the cornea. This allows the surgeon to fold back a flap of tissue over your eye and reshape it.
• Surface laser treatments (PRK®, LASEK®, and TransPRK®). These procedures are similar to LASIK®. But instead of creating a flap, the surgeon uses a fine laser to reshape the surface of your cornea. These procedures are typically less effective than LASIK® at correcting refractive errors. However, they have a lower risk of side effects and may be better suited for people with thin corneas.

Phakic intraocular lens implantation (PIOL)

Children with short-sightedness may be treated with a lens implant surgery. This is called the phakic intraocular lens (PIOL). This procedure is only suitable for children younger than seven years old. The surgeon will remove your child’s natural lens and replace it with an artificial one. This allows light to reach the retina in focus.

SMILE®

Your child may also be eligible for SMILE® (small incision lenticule extraction). This procedure is like LASIK but requires only a small hole in the cornea instead of one large cut.

The surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to make thousands of tiny holes in your child’s cornea. They’ll then fill it with fluid that helps reshape it.

Signs of Short-Sightedness in Children

Given those children often cannot express their symptoms, parents need to be aware of the signs of short-sightedness. This way, they can get their kids checked out. 

Signs of short-sightedness in children include:

Headaches

The first sign of short-sightedness is usually headaches. Short-sighted children often complain of headaches. This is especially when reading or watching computer screens for long periods. The pain may be in the back of their head or around their eyes and temples.

Squinting

Myopia makes you squint, especially when looking at distant objects. This is because the eye has to work harder to focus on them. Children who are short-sighted will often squint even in bright sunlight. This can sometimes signify a more serious vision problem, such as astigmatism.

Eye strain

Children who are short-sighted often complain of eyestrain, especially when they are reading. The eye must work harder to focus on words close up, which can make children feel tired or even give them headaches. Sometimes, myopia is severe. It can also cause pain in the eyes.

Eye fatigue 

The eyes can quickly become tired in children who are short-sighted. This is especially when they are reading or doing close work. The eye must work harder to focus on words close up, which can make children tired or even give them headaches.

Trouble reading the Board at school.

This is a classic symptom of short-sightedness. The board is usually far from the child, so it can be difficult for them to see what’s written on it. They may squint or put their hand up to shield their eyes from the light as they try to read what’s been written on the board.

Causes of Short-Sightedness in Children

The primary cause of myopia in children is genetics. Children who have parents with myopia are more likely to develop it themselves.

Other potential causes include excessive near work like reading or using a computer for extended periods. Also, inadequate time spent outdoors can cause myopia. Underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, can also cause myopia.

Conclusion

Short-sightedness in children can be a frustrating and worrisome condition for parents. Children often complain about their vision. They may struggle when reading or doing close-up tasks. Having your child checked by a doctor if you notice any symptoms of short-sightedness in your child is essential.