Difference between revisions of Child Myopia

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==Prioritize Stabilization==
==Prioritize Stabilization==
While it is understandable that you want to reverse your child's myopia quickly, take into account that it is quite likely that their eyes are currently getting worse. Stopping that progression is the first big step, and even if that is all you manage, that is a win. Correct use of correction for a given task, time outdoors engaging with distance vision, and good near work habits is typically enough to accomplish this goal.  
While it is understandable that you want to reverse your child's myopia quickly, take into account that it is quite likely that their eyes are currently getting worse. Stopping that progression is the first big step, and even if that is all you manage, that is a win. Correct use of correction for a given task, time outdoors engaging with distance vision, and good near work habits are typically enough to accomplish this goal.  


Your child may or may not choose to reverse their myopia, and hard as it is for a parent to accept, that is their choice. But enabling them to stop it's progression and giving them the option to reverse it, now that you know it is possible, is an advantage that most people don't have; children and adults alike.
Your child may or may not choose to reverse their myopia, and hard as it is for a parent to accept, that is their choice. But enabling them to stop it's progression and giving them the option to reverse it, now that you know it is possible, is an advantage that most people don't have; children and adults alike.

Revision as of 16:13, 22 April 2021

Introduction

All parents approaching EndMyopia for their children, come with a sense of urgency. Please understand this is not a good approach. You need to be calm and rational in order to make good choices for your child. Remember myopia is NOT a medical condition, it is a refractive error. If your child had good vision before, they should be able to have it again. If your child does have a medical condition there might be limitations to how much this method will help, however the practices are worthwhile applications for their future vision just the same. Ideally, a myopic adult would start with EndMyopia then help a child. It is very important that an adult who fully understands the method and what vision improvement requires works with the child in question.

Please Note

It might be helpful to consider that myopia control and reversal is less like potty training (go hard for a few weeks and it's typically done with) and more like getting them to pick up after themselves (every parent knows this is a long haul lesson). Small changes over time will be a good approach.

Getting Started

Most parents new to the method have the first instinct to take away their child's correction and take away most of, if not all of, their favorite close-up activities.

Let's start with the desire to take away correction. Don't. If your child was just told they need glasses and they have never worn them before by all means hold off on introducing correction, you might even find with new habits they won't need correction, as long as you are working on their vision, it is not harmful to not rush into correction. But, if a child is already wearing correction they can't just stop. They need to learn to wear the correction only when needed and should never wear their full correction for near work. If their correction is stronger than -2 they will likely require differentials for near work. It is best to provide the correction for a greater distance than to have your child looking at things closer in order to eliminate that need for correction; because the closer they are to the object of focus the more strain there is on the eye. Always the goal should be to maximize their distance when in a situation of static viewing; such as reading, playing video games and computer work. The worst danger zone is under 50cms, as you can quickly surmise this includes basically everything within arms reach for children.

Now on to that other reflex reaction. If you take away all of your child's favorite and accustomed activities, they are not going to see your love for them in it. They are most likely going to hate the sudden onset of restrictions and feel like they are being punished for being myopic. While this is clearly not your intent, this is almost certainly how they will feel. Try to make gradual changes. Reducing time in extreme and static close up needs to be a priority; so anytime you can shift phone and/or tablet activities to a tv at a greater distance this will be progress. Many parent also use book stands to help increase and encourage consistent reading distance. Introduce the 20-20-20 rule during close up right away, then start reducing the close work time itself where possible. One thing that might help with the 20-20-20 rule is a "stretch buddy" place an object (favorite toy perhaps) at a distance from your child during close up and encourage them to "stretch their eyes" to see the object at regular intervals, picking out details on it as much as possible. Don't worry overmuch about activities like Legos and Play-doh, 3-D objects and activities tend to have a lot of shifting focus, these activities are not harmful, provided there is good lighting and your child gets good distance vision as well. It is static vision that is the primary concern.

Measuring

Getting your child to look at a Snellen Chart is probably best saved primarily for measurements, and for younger children there are kid friendly snellen charts that will probably prove more engaging. It is a good idea to have several charts, it is easy to memorize a frequently used chart, so rotate often for more accurate testing. You will of course want to do centimeter measurements as well. Try to keep measuring light and fun, causing yourself or your child stress with measuring is not going to be beneficial for anyone. Jake does recommend hanging a snellen chart in the home; however for children it is probably a good idea to have well placed text stimulus beyond that, keeping some novelty to the snellen chart might well help your child engage more when you are doing measurements.

Active Focus

Children have a hard time grasping active focus but encouraging them to engage with their vision through play is easy to do, when you can get them to do this outside, even better. Some ideas here: focus games. It is important to discourage squinting and blinking unnaturally hard in order to clear blur. These are both bad habits to form and difficult to break. If you have a fairly good handle on active focus, your child is a little older and feel you can convey active focus to your child on their level by all means do so. However for the most part children are going to be more inclined to clear blur when it is part of an activity, rather than the clearing of blur being the activity alone.

Prioritize Stabilization

While it is understandable that you want to reverse your child's myopia quickly, take into account that it is quite likely that their eyes are currently getting worse. Stopping that progression is the first big step, and even if that is all you manage, that is a win. Correct use of correction for a given task, time outdoors engaging with distance vision, and good near work habits are typically enough to accomplish this goal.

Your child may or may not choose to reverse their myopia, and hard as it is for a parent to accept, that is their choice. But enabling them to stop it's progression and giving them the option to reverse it, now that you know it is possible, is an advantage that most people don't have; children and adults alike.

Important

Please don't make any changes to your child's correction until you can make an informed decision. Communicate with your child about their vision, even preschool aged children can relay their own feedback. Marching your child to the optometrist every 6 months is going to be a point of stress and is wholly unnecessary, do your own measurements, and keep it light. Keep in mind how you would deal with your child concerning any other matter. Don't forget you are building better vision habits for life, there is no need to frustrate yourself or your child by pushing for fast changes and results. Remember this is not a medical condition, certainly don't neglect it, but this is more of a marathon than a sprint, so slow and steady is the way to go.


See Also

Guide for child myopia

Focus games for kids

In the EndMyopia Blog

Child myopia diopter strategies

Child active focus

Child myopia 1

Child myopia 2

Active Focus games for kids

A Final Note

Obviously, there is the whole rest of the method to add to this, and if you need more help Jake has an add-on to the adult BackTo20/20 program.