Eyes give us messages that facilitates our understanding of the world we live in. The structure of the eye is incredibly complex; all parts of the eye and the brain need to work together for a person to see properly. But because of this complexity, many things can go wrong with our eyes. One of the most common refractive errors includes myopia.

Myopia, or shortsightedness, usually starts in early childhood. The earlier a child develops myopia, the higher their chances of developing severe myopia as the condition tends to worsen until the late teen years, or early 20s, before it stabilizes.

The prevalence of myopia in Asia is increasing at an alarming rate. While it is not entirely clear what causes this condition, both genetic and environmental risk factors are involved.

Research has shown that the Chinese populations in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan are more prone to myopia. In addition, a child’s risk of becoming myopic increases if one or both of their parents is shortsighted.

Apart from genetics, near-work activities such as reading, writing, computer work, and a lack of outdoor activities have shown a definite correlation to risk of having myopia. Children today are more prone to myopia as they spend more time playing computer games, using electronic gadgets and reading.

“Myopia seems to be getting worse with each new generation,” said Dr Audrey Chia, a senior consultant pediatric ophthalmologist at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC).

“Our genes are still the same, so this tells us the environment has a large part to play. It would be nice to return to the old days when TV and computer games did not exist and children spent much of their time playing outside.

Since this is not possible in today’s world, parents should take care of their children’s eyes to delay the development of myopia or slow its progression if their child is already myopic.”

Children who develop myopia at an early age usually also develop advanced shortsightedness by the time they are adults. The early onset of myopia makes these children more prone to eye diseases such as retinal detachment, cataracts and glaucoma at a later age. These conditions are also potential causes of blindness in older people.

Many parents worry about their children wearing spectacles at a young age. However, children wearing spectacles all the time will not speed up the progress of their myopia, as it commonly believed. The rate of myopia progression is largely determined by the way a child uses their eyes.

“Parents should send their children for regular eye screening more than once a year,” stressed Dr Chia.

If myopia advances rapidly, she went on, spectacles become ineffective very quickly. “Not being able to read bus numbers or read accurately from a whiteboard in class are good indicators that a child’s spectacles need to be changed. Often, teachers are the ones who bring this to the attention of parents.”

So, when visiting an optical shop, make sure that the person who prescribes the spectacles is a qualified optometrist.

Remember, an optician is a person who makes spectacles based on a prescription, and can decide on the best type of lens and spectacle frame to suit the individual.

An optometrist, on the other hand, is a person who can prescribe spectacles, and do simple examinations of the eye to determine if a child needs to be referred to an ophthalmologist.

Ophthalmologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions. They can prescribe spectacles, medication and perform surgery if necessary.

Here are a few eye care tips from Dr Audrey Chia:

Ensure your children get good lighting. Children should sit up to read, avoid reading in dim areas and maintain a good distance of 30 to 40 centimeters between their eyes and the book.

When watching television, the room should be well lit and viewers should sit at least two meters away from a TV. The height of the television screen should also be positioned at or below eye level.

Limit the time your child’s spends on the computer and plays with hand-held electronic games. Make sure there is a comfortable distance of about 40 centimeters between the computer screen and the eyes, and position the monitor to avoid glare from other sources of light.

To help further reduce strain on the eyes, bigger fonts and monitors can be used. Computer users are encouraged to take regular visual rests and avoid playing games on the computer for long periods.

Take visual breaks. Our eyes tire easily when we look intensely at something in close proximity. Take a break of three to five minutes after every 30 to 40 minutes of doing work such as reading, using the computer or watching TV.

Allow your eyes to relax by looking into the distance or out of a window at buildings, trees, street lamps, people or vehicles on the road. Do not try to strain the eyes while doing this. Your eyes will feel more relaxed and less tired after three to five minutes.

Reduce glare. Adjust the contrast setting on your computer monitor and television screen to a comfortable level for your eyes.

Eat a balanced diet. A balanced diet is important for general health. Ensure that your child has a good balance of carbohydrates (rice or noodles), protein (lean meat and fish), and both green and colored vegetables such as carrots. This will ensure that your child has all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals they need for the proper functioning of their body and eyes.

Encourage you children to maintain a good balance of outdoor play and indoor activities (reading, watching TV and playing computer games) to help prevent myopia and keep fit.