Your child becomes myopic, or nearsighted, when their eyeball begins to grow too long. This focuses light in front of the retina, rather than directly on the retina, causing blurred vision.
Why does this happen?
Myopia happens primarily from two things: genetics and lifestyle.
Genetics:
Kids with no myopic parents have a 1 in 4 chance of becoming nearsighted.
Kids with one myopic parent have a 1 in 3 chance of becoming nearsighted.
Kids with two myopic parents have a 1 in 2 chance of becoming nearsighted.
Lifestyle:
Kids engaging in more near work (computer, reading, other digital devices) rather than spending 1-2 hours outside per day have a higher chance of becoming nearsighted. (Read more)
What are the long-term consequences of myopia/nearsightedness?
Your child will have an increased risk of various ocular conditions, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and myopic macular degeneration.
