【Ophthalmology】Scientific Myopia Prevention and Control, Caring for Children's E

Myopia Prevention and Control

Increase outdoor activity time: An average of 2 hours per day (intermittent, totaling about 14 hours weekly) effectively prevents myopia. The protective effect depends on cumulative exposure to outdoor bright light, unrelated to physical activity. Note: Ensure UV protection during outdoor exposure.

Reduce near work duration and intensity: Younger children should minimize close-up activities; ages 0–3 avoid iPads/phones. Ages 4–6 may use electronics occasionally (≤15 minutes/session). Follow the 30-10 rule: 10-minute breaks after 30 minutes of near work. Maintain proper posture ("one foot, one fist, one inch" rule) and avoid reading while walking, eating, lying down, or in poor lighting.

Establish vision health records: From age 3, undergo regular hospital checkups to track refractive development, including visual acuity, refraction, axial length, eye alignment, and fundus health.

Optimize home/educational environments: Maximize natural lighting for near tasks.

Early Diagnosis

Parental observation: Watch for squinting, head tilting, or screen proximity. Cover one eye to test child’s response.

Regular medical exams: For under age 3, assess vision via optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) or preferential looking (PL); older children use eye charts or refraction tests.

Myopia Correction

Eyeglasses: Single-vision lenses improve sight but don’t control myopia. Multifocal/bifocal lenses show limited efficacy for specific cases.

Contact lenses: Orthokeratology (OK lenses) slows progression by 70–80%, though effectiveness varies. Multifocal soft contacts are less effective than OK lenses.

Low-dose atropine (0.01%): Slows progression by 60–80% in children aged 6–12 (∼50 diopters/year reduction). Safety and long-term effects require further study; not yet clinically approved in China.

Note: Seek professional hospitals for comprehensive exams (history, refraction, eye alignment/health) and personalized prescriptions. Contact lens fitting requires contraindication screening and follow-ups to prevent complications.