Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is a vision condition in which distant objects appear blurry while close-up items remain clear. While it affects over 40% of people in the United States, it’s most common in children between the ages of 6 and 14. What’s the question we get asked most though from parents? It’s ‘is nearsightedness genetic?’

The condition is caused by several factors, including family history, with a higher risk if one or both parents are nearsighted. Additional risk factors include spending excessive time on close-up activities like reading, limited outdoor time, and ethnicity, with Asian and Hispanic children being more prone to developing nearsightedness.

Signs and symptoms

Parents and teachers play a crucial role in spotting early signs of myopia in children. Here are some to watch out for:

• Difficulty seeing objects in the distance: Your child may struggle to see things like the board at school.
• Squinting or frequent eye rubbing: These indicate that your child is trying to focus better.
• Complaints of headaches: Frequent headaches can be from eye strain caused by trying to see clearly.
• Sitting close to the TV: If your child constantly sits very close to the TV, it may be because they can’t see it well from a distance.
• Frequent blinking: Excessive blinking can be a response to blurry vision.

Early detection of myopia

Regular eye exams are essential for monitoring and managing myopia. We work with some of the best pediatric eye doctors Chicago has and tailor their eye examinations for children of all ages to ensure their prescriptions are accurate and their eyes are healthy. With extensive experience in pediatric eyecare, our team creates a relaxed environment for kids, making the experience stress-free.

Myopia management methods

Managing myopia early on is crucial to prevent it from developing into high myopia, which means a stronger prescription that can lead to more severe eye problems in the future. As vision correction alone isn’t enough, controlling myopia progression is key. Our eye doctors will work with parents to choose the best child nearsighted treatment options, including:

• Low-dose atropine: Atropine eye drops for nearsightedness are medicated drops for slowing myopia down.
• Multifocal contact lenses: These lenses help focus light correctly on the retina to reduce eye strain.
• Ortho-K overnight contact lenses: These custom lenses gently reshape the cornea while your child sleeps, providing clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or contacts.

If you have reservations about your child wearing contact lenses, you can rest assured that they are in expert hands with Dr. Robert Davis, a renowned contact lens specialist. Additionally, many children easily adapt to contact lenses, which are safe and effective for managing myopia.

Myopia management at home

You can also take steps at home to slow myopia progression or help with myopia prevention. For example, we suggest limiting your child’s screen time and encouraging them to spend at least two hours outdoors each day. This allows their eyes to get more oxygen and adapt to varied focal distances.

Get in touch

If you’re concerned about your child’s vision or want expert advice on managing myopia, contact us or schedule an eye exam with our Orland Park and Oak Lawn pediatrics eye doctor to ensure your child’s eyes remain healthy and well-cared for.