Seize the daylight
Encourage your child to spend at least 2 hours outdoors daily. This may help delay myopia onset or prevent myopia development.
my•o•pia /mīˈōpēə/
Noun
A common vision problem that makes distant objects look blurry, while objects nearby remain clear. Myopia is also known as “nearsightedness” or “shortsightedness”.
According to the American Optometric Association, more than 40% of Americans are myopic, a number that is rapidly rising, especially among school-aged children. It is most often detected between ages of 3-12.1
Squinting can temporarily improve blurry vision, so if you notice your child squinting a lot, they might have trouble seeing at a distance.
You might notice this when your child sits too close to the TV, or shows disinterest in activities that require them to focus at a distance.
Children experiencing eye strain may complain of headaches or sore, tired eyes. They may also rub their eyes frequently.
Squinting can temporarily improve blurry vision, so if you notice your child squinting a lot, they might have trouble seeing.
You might notice this when your child sits too close to the TV, or shows disinterest in activities that require them to focus at a distance.
You might notice this when your child sits too close to the TV, or shows disinterest in activities that require them to focus at a distance.
Take your child for annual vision care exams with your eye doctor. During their next appointment, you can also talk with your provider about the first FDA approved treatment proven to slow the worsening of nearsightedness in children.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends babies receive a professional eye exam shortly after birth, at six months of age and again just prior to entering school.4
Encourage your child to spend at least 2 hours outdoors daily. This may help delay myopia onset or prevent myopia development.
Maintain proper distance when doing near work (e.g., reading) – the book should be at least as far from your eyes as your elbow is when you make a fist and hold it against your nose.
When doing homework or using digital devices, take a break every 20 minutes or so. During the break, stand up and look out a window.
Tip #1
Take your child for annual vision care exams with your eye doctor. During their next appointment, you can also talk with your provider about the first FDA approved treatment proven to slow the worsening of nearsightedness in children.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends babies receive a professional eye exam shortly after birth, at six months of age and again just prior to entering school.4
Tip #2
Encourage your child to spend at least 2 hours outdoors daily. This may help delay myopia onset or prevent myopia development.
Tip #3
Medically known as photokeratitis, snow blindness is similar to a sunburned cornea. It results from unprotected exposure to sunlight reflecting off of the ice, snow and water, particularly at high elevations where the air is thinner2. To prevent snow blindness, wear eye protection, especially when skiing.
Tip #4
When doing homework or using digital devices, take a break every 20 minutes or so. During the break, stand up and look out a window.
Want to see what myopia might look like?
Click and slide target below to show myopia with uncorrected vision (on the right) at different Rx levels.
Myopia cannot be reversed or cured, but it can be treated.5 Ready to take the first step? Visit your eye doctor for a vision care exam – myopia can be diagnosed and treated by visiting an in-network provider such as Pearle Vision.
Disclaimer: For advice and further information about nearsightedness you should consult an eye care professional. This simulator should be treated as information only and does not represent advice. The images presented are artistic interpretations of nearsightedness as experienced without glasses or contact lenses.
1 - “Myopia (Nearsightedness)”; Cleveland Clinic; clevelandclinic.org; October 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8579-myopia-nearsightedness
2 - “Eye Conditions: Myopia,” All About Vision, February 2022 https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/myopia.htm
3 - “Myopia in Children: Is your child at risk?,” All About Vision, March 2022, https://www.allaboutvision.com/parents/myopia-causes.htm
4 - “AOA Pediatric Guidelines 6-Page Summary,” American Optometric Association, February 2021 https://www.aoa.org/AOA/Documents/About%20the%20AOA/Get%20Involved/AOA%20Pediatric%20Guidline%206-page%20Summary%202.19.21.pdf
5 - “Myopia (Nearsightedness) in Children & Teens,” Healthychildren.org, May 2022, https://www.healthychildren.org/english/health-issues/conditions/eyes/pages/myopia-nearsightedness.aspx