How to prevent your child from becoming nearsighted?

The French Society of Ophthalmology (SFO) and the French Society of Ophthalmologists Adapters of Contact Lenses (SFOALC) publish recommendations for slowing the development of myopia in children.

Prevention

For all children, in prevention, it is necessary:
– encourage outdoor activities in daylight for several hours a day (or in the absence of those behind a window),
– avoid / reduce prolonged activities in near vision (take regular breaks),
– keep screens (tablets, phones, computers, etc.) more than 35 cm from the eyes,
– avoid reading in weak artificial light.

Possible treatments

If progressive myopia is diagnosed, it can be offered alone or in combination:
– adequate optical correction,
– anti myopia glasses,
– night lenses or orthokeratology,
– myopic brake day lenses. “For all lenses, the maintenance and hygiene rules are the same as for conventional lenses. They must be worn daily to be effective”, experts say.
– A low concentration of atropine eye drops (clinical trials are ongoing to judge the effectiveness of atropine based on different concentrations).

Surveillance

The recommendations of the scholarly societies also specify that these treatments “are intended to slow the development of myopia and not to make it disappear”, is “generally it will have to be continued for several months, even years without interruption, otherwise myopia will increase again”. They also stress the need for regular monitoring of children by the ophthalmologist, usually once or twice a year, and determined on a case-by-case basis.