Myopia in young children: factors and signs

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Extract from the article: Childhood visual impairment is a refractive defect of the eyes, which affects children aged 0-15 years. It is one of the most common eye conditions. One of the most common eye conditions in children is myopia. This is a vision anomaly that results in

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Childhood visual impairment is a refractive defect of the eyes, which affects children aged 0-15 years. It is one of the most common eye conditions. One of the most common eye conditions in children is myopia. This is a vision anomaly that results in blurred vision at a distance, but clear vision at close range.

Myopia is not uncommon in children and adolescents. It is a disease of the eye that is part of a group called ametropia. « This means that the eye is designed to see images on the retina. It can happen that images are formed in front of the retina or images are formed behind the retina. If the images are formed in front of the retina, it is said that the eye does not allow to focus, so it is a myopia », explains Professor Patrice Balo, an ophthalmologist in charge of the "Sight & Vision" practice in Lomé. 

According to WHO projections, this vision disorder, which can lead in some cases to serious complications, could affect nearly 50% of the population by 2050, and thus concern 5 billion people on the planet.

The genetic factor: the primary cause

Myopia is largely genetic in origin. « Myopia is constitutional. That is to say, we are born with an anatomical shape of the eye and when this anatomical shape does not allow the eye to put the image on the retina and this image is in front of the retina, we can have myopia », said Professor Patrice Balo.

Apart from the genetic factor, the environment plays a much more crucial role in the development of this refractive disorder. Lifestyles thus constitute a breeding ground for the development of myopia by combining different risk factors. A lifestyle that requires focusing too long on a close object, in particular too much close vision on a daily basis, and time spent in front of screens, smartphones, tablets, computers and television.

Watch for these signs in children

Myopia generally appears in childhood. It is detected when the child starts school, most often in primary school. This is when they complain, for example, that they cannot see what is written on the blackboard or when reading. The child's eyes are very close to the book. Parents and teachers should watch for these signs. « When the child is in school, the way the child does his homework, when the child writes and his eyes are very close to the book, it means that something is wrong. This should draw the attention of parents and ask for a vision test », says Professor Patrice Balo.

Parents should encourage children to reduce the amount of time they use mobile phones and other electronic devices. And above all, take them to the ophthalmologist for an eye test.

Arnaud KONDO