Are you or your partner myopic? Does your child spend a lot of time using screens? Does your child have limited opportunities for outdoor play?
These are all factors that can contribute to excessive growth of the eyeball in childhood.
Myopia control
Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is becoming more prevalent among children.
The eyeball grows larger throughout childhood, just like every other part of your child’s body, and this is normal.
Problems occur when the rate of growth is excessive and the child becomes more and more myopic, and there is now plenty of evidence that our modern lifestyle is contributing to this excessive growth.
Left uncontrolled, increasing myopia can lead to various issues such as needing stronger glasses more frequently, difficulty in managing activities without glasses, career limitations, and increased risks of eye diseases later in life.
Regular check-ups are crucial for early detection and, fortunately, treatments are available to slow down its progression.
Although it is difficult to fully control the tendency for excessive growth, to a large extent it can be mitigated by a number of different interventions.
Strategies to control excessive eyeball growth fall into four categories:
1. Lifestyle changes such as spending more time outdoors and reducing screen time;
2. Daily eye drops;
3. Special design spectacle lenses; and
4. Contact lenses, either soft daily disposable lenses or Ortho-K lenses.
By employing a combination of these strategies, the Dr Optical team can help maintain your child’s eye health and ensure they stay on track.
The accompanying image is a percentile growth chart illustrating the enlargement of an eyeball during childhood.
Ideally, the growth should remain below the pink zone and follow along these lines without exceeding them.
Measuring the length of the eye (axial length) serves as a valuable tool for predicting potential complications in the future.
Dr Optical, in Glen Iris, has the latest technology to measure the diameter of your child’s eyeball with extreme precision. Book an appointment today!
Beyond children’s vision, Dr Optical is committed to serving all members of the local community with integrity and professionalism, to build lasting relationships.
Book an appointment and get the most out of your vision.
The practice is dedicated to providing comprehensive eye care, led by a team of skilled optometrists working in tandem with an onsite eye specialist.
