Myopia in children
Myopia – what exactly is it?
At our orthoptics clinic, we treat myopia. But what does that actually mean? How exactly does myopia manifest itself, and what treatment options are available? We’ll explain the details:
Myopia, more commonly known as short-sightedness, is a widespread functional impairment of the eye. Those affected can see their surroundings clearly at close range, but objects in the distance appear only blurred and out of focus. Around 1.4 billion people worldwide are short-sighted.
In recent years, the number of people with short-sightedness has risen significantly. A sharp increase is particularly evident among children and young people. So-called ‘school myopia’ is the most common form of short-sightedness and affects children aged between six and 15.
Forecasts suggest that by 2050, 50 per cent of the world’s population will be short-sighted. This is due to the ever-increasing use of smartphones and computers.
What causes short-sightedness?
In a short-sighted eye, the incoming rays of light are refracted not on, but in front of the retina. This occurs because the eyeball of a short-sighted person is elongated. There are various causes for the eyeball to grow in length. As well as a hereditary component, it is primarily our lifestyle that contributes to short-sightedness. Studies show that spending too many hours doing close-up work (on computers, tablets, smartphones or even when reading books) promotes the elongation of the eyeball. Whenever we read, play games or focus at close range for long periods, a device is positioned very close to – and often directly in front of – our eyes for hours on end. Monotonous, prolonged close-up viewing damages our eyesight and promotes short-sightedness.
How can you prevent short-sightedness?
Once myopia has developed, it cannot be reversed. However, it can be corrected with the right spectacles or contact lenses. Through our myopia prevention programme here at the BeyondEye practice, we aim to detect early-stage myopia as early as possible and, where possible, prevent it from progressing. Myopia prevention is therefore particularly important for children and young people. Thanks to the latest research findings, we are able to counteract this with a range of innovative treatment options.
High-tech solutions for the prevention of myopia
The Myopia Master is a diagnostic device specifically designed for the prevention and monitoring of myopia. By measuring the axial length, refraction and keratometry of the eye, the risk of myopia is reliably assessed. By collecting this data, we at the BeyondEye practice are able to detect myopia even before the first symptoms appear.
What can you do yourself to prevent short-sightedness?
For children in particular, the amount of time spent in natural daylight plays a major role. Sunlight triggers the release of dopamine in the body, which inhibits the longitudinal growth of the eye. Children should therefore spend at least two hours a day outdoors in natural light.
Another factor is the ever-increasing amount of close-up work – even from a young age. Due to digitalisation and the associated increased use of smartphones, children today do significantly more close-up work with their eyes than ever before. Constantly focusing at close range promotes the elongation of the eyeball, which, as described earlier, leads to an increase in short-sightedness. A reading distance of at least 30 centimetres should therefore be maintained wherever possible. To give the eyes a rest, it is also advisable to take frequent breaks and look into the distance.
What treatment options are available for short-sightedness?
Here at the BeyondEye practice, we offer a modern range of treatments for short-sightedness, based on the latest scientific findings. Prevention and treatment may consist of the following components:
We use atropine treatment specifically for children with short-sightedness. A small dose of atropine is administered directly into the eye once a day before bedtime. The atropine is intended to prevent the eye from growing any longer. The eye drops are made from natural ingredients such as belladonna, which have a proven track record in ophthalmology. Furthermore, experience shows that there are very few side effects. Studies indicate that atropine therapy can reduce the progression of myopia by around 50 per cent. This type of treatment is suitable for children aged between six and 14 who are suffering from increasing short-sightedness – particularly if their parents are already short-sighted or there is a family history of myopia.
Ortho-K contact lens therapy involves fitting special contact lenses that are worn exclusively at night. This method is suitable for both children and adults. The fitted lenses cause minimal reshaping of the cornea overnight, thereby ensuring that visual images are focused on the correct part of the retina. Studies show that treatment with Ortho-K lenses can reduce the progression of myopia by around 50 per cent. Ortho-K lenses can be prescribed from the age of six, and the cost is around 45 euros per month.
In treatment with soft multifocal lenses, a special soft contact lens is used to create a second focal plane within the eye, which ensures that images are correctly focused on the retina. Multifocal contact lenses are worn during the day (for a maximum of eight hours) to reduce the progression of myopia by around 30 per cent. This has also been confirmed by studies. These lenses can be prescribed from the age of six, and the cost is around 40 euros per month.
This type of treatment combines the two therapeutic approaches described above. The Ortho-K lenses, which are worn exclusively at night, cause minimal deformation of the cornea. At the same time, the additional treatment with atropine inhibits eye growth. According to current research, combining these two therapies is effective in slowing the progression of myopia in children. The cost of the combination therapy is approximately 60–80 euros per month.
With this type of treatment, we fit special lenses developed specifically for the prevention of myopia in children. These innovative lenses prevent the image from forming behind the retina and, thanks to a special design of the lens surface, shift the focal points within the eye forwards. The lens technology and costs vary depending on the manufacturer. This type of treatment is particularly suitable for younger children, as no contact lenses need to be fitted. We at BeyondEye are happy to advise you on finding the best possible personalised solution for you or your child.
Do you suspect you may have short-sightedness, or have you noticed signs of short-sightedness in your child? If so, Simply book an appointment with us online now .
Recommendations from the BVA and DOG on the prevention of myopia
Currently, around 15 per cent of all children in Germany are short-sighted by the end of primary school. These figures rise dramatically as people get older: among 25-year-olds, almost half (45 per cent) are already affected by myopia. Slowing the progression of myopia in childhood is therefore of particular importance. The Professional Association of German Ophthalmologists (BVA) and the German Ophthalmological Society have issued a statement on this matter. Here is a summary of the key findings for you:
Harmful habits (spending long hours on a mobile phone or computer) have a greater impact than genetic factors (hereditary short-sightedness). This was the finding of large-scale studies involving numerous participants.
If one parent is short-sighted, the proportion of children who are also short-sighted rises to 30 per cent. If both parents are short-sighted, the probability of the child developing myopia is around 60 per cent.
Exposure to light (daylight) is thought to help prevent short-sightedness by triggering the release of dopamine. Studies show that just two hours’ exposure to daylight halves the risk. Accordingly, children should be given plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities every day. This effect occurs not only on sunny days, but also when the sky is overcast. The UV component does not appear to play a significant role in this.
Given the amount of time young people now typically spend on „close-up work" – that is, reading small print at close range – it is important to take breaks and, after 30 minutes at the latest, to shift one’s gaze and look into the distance or at greenery wherever possible. It is also helpful to change the distance every now and then.
The effect of low-dose atropine in slowing the progression of myopia has been known for 100 years, although the mechanism of action has not yet been fully elucidated. Large-scale studies show that atropine administered as eye drops in the evening at a concentration of 0.01 per cent significantly reduced the progression of myopia in the 6 to 14 age group. Approximately 10 per cent of the children did not respond to the treatment.
The use of special multifocal contact lenses as a means of optical correction can also influence the progression of myopia. The success rate here is a reduction of approximately 22 to 30 per cent.
Special multifocal lenses can also reduce short-sightedness by compensating for long-sightedness in the peripheral areas of the retina.