Hyperopia is one of the common ophthalmic problems. It manifests itself in the fact that a person is not able to clearly see objects from a short distance. Why does a child develop hyperopia?
Experts say that all newborn children are farsighted, but with age, as the size of the eyeball increases, this defect normally disappears. And only when the eyeball on the anteroposterior axis maintains a size smaller than necessary does farsightedness appear. Often such problems are inherited. Other possible, although rarer causes of hyperopia in children are defects in the shape of the eyeball and the optical system of the eye.
How to determine that a child has hyperopia? There are several signs that can help you identify the disease:
- the baby sees worse objects that are nearby;
- problems with distance vision are possible;
- while reading and writing, the eyes get very tired;
- during work there is an overstrain, the child complains of a burning sensation in the eyes and headaches);
- characteristic symptoms of children's hyperopia are strabismus and amblyopia (“lazy" eyes).
If the child has hyperopia, then up to a certain age (1-2 years) this is considered normal. However, it is important to visit an ophthalmologist regularly to monitor the development of vision in the baby. No less important are preventive measures:
Watch the lighting while your child is doing something. Ideally, this should be an overhead light or a good table lamp with a power of 60-100 watts. The use of fluorescent lamps is strongly not recommended.
- Perform a set of exercises for the eyes every 20-30 minutes of classes.
- It is best if the visual loads alternate with physical exercise and outdoor activities.
However, if the problem has already made itself felt, the prevention cannot fix the situation. Nowadays, several methods are practiced, how to treat hyperopia in children.
Conservative treatment involves wearing glasses or contact lenses selected by an optometrist. In terms of comfort, contact lenses, of course, win, but some children develop individual intolerance, which forces parents to opt for glasses.
Does the child have hyperopia? Pay special attention to training the eye muscles that are responsible for accommodation. This can be special courses of eye gymnastics, laser stimulation , the use of drugs, video-computer correction.
As a rule, ophthalmologists advise parents to include foods rich in proteins, vitamins, and trace elements (Zn, Cr, Cu, Mn, etc.) in the child’s diet.
If you find vision problems in time, it is likely in a few years to completely get rid of farsightedness without resorting to surgical methods of vision correction. To do this, it is recommended to visit an ophthalmologist at least once a year. Remember that children themselves often do not notice that they see poorly.