Myopia (myopia) in school-age children is quite common. According to medical statistics, almost a third of high school students suffer from such visual impairment . Ophthalmologists even gave an unofficial name for such a pathology - "school myopia."
The reason why myopia occurs in schoolchildren is understandable. This is the increased load that the child’s eyes receive when he begins to learn. Moreover, visual tension arises not only at school lessons, but also at home, during the preparation of homework. Due to the relevance of this problem, many parents and teachers are concerned about the methods of combating this pathology and ways to prevent it.
The mechanism of myopia
The problem of myopia is very well studied by doctors. The mechanism of development of this pathology is also known. Children suffering from myopia can clearly see those objects that are nearby. But with those objects that are far away, problems arise: there is a lack of image clarity.
The physiological cause of this problem may lie in the state of the eyeball. It either has an elongated shape, or its cornea refracts the image too much. Such violations lead to the fact that the picture does not focus on the retina, as is normal, but in front of it. Due to such violations, the child cannot clearly see objects that are away.
Causes of School Myopia
The eyeball may be deformed due to a genetic predisposition. Such a pathology also arises as a result of large visual loads that take place in the process of schooling.
Of course, myopia can be detected in children of any age. However, most often, such a pathology occurs during the period of schooling (from seven to fourteen years). Moreover, the victims of a strong learning load are not only those children who have a genetic predisposition. Myopia is detected in completely healthy schoolchildren.
The reasons for myopia at such a young age are not only increased training loads, which are a real stress for not yet strong visual organs. Modern children use mobile phones a lot, play computer games with enthusiasm and spend a lot of time in front of the TV screen. How does all this affect the eyes? In the normal state, the visual system perceives objects located at a remote distance from the child. But in order to see nearby objects, the eye must strain, using its focusing apparatus (to change the shape of the lens using deformation of the muscular system). But what happens with frequent and prolonged stress? Muscles stop relaxing and take their starting position.
Ophthalmologists call this phenomenon “accommodation spasm”. Symptoms of the pathology are similar to those that occur when myopia occurs. That is why the spasm of accommodation is also called false myopia. This pathology occurs due to:
- poor lighting of the workplace; - Violations of the tone of the cervical and spinal muscles; - improper diet; - a significant load on the visual organs due to their long focus on objects located at a short distance; - long stay at the computer; - violations in the psychological sphere; - non-compliance with the rules of eye hygiene; - the wrong daily routine.
False myopia in school-age children is treatable. It is only necessary to identify this pathology in time and take all appropriate measures to get rid of it. Otherwise, the eye will have to adapt to new conditions for it, which in most cases leads to the appearance of true anatomical myopia.
Symptoms of myopia
It is very difficult to determine myopia at school age. Many children simply cannot decide how well they see. Even when a visual impairment leads to a decrease in academic performance, they simply cannot explain the true reason for the appearance of poor grades in the diary.
Parents may suspect the appearance of myopia in a child if he:
- frowns or squints when looking into the distance; - often complains of headaches; - holds textbooks and other subjects very close to the face; - often blinks or rubs his eyes.
What to do when school myopia appears?
What measures should parents take if their child has the first signs of myopia? First of all, you should take your child to the doctor. The specialist will select a correction for this disease and prescribe the necessary therapy.
If myopia was detected in schoolchildren, treatment of this pathology should take place depending on its degree. When prescribing the course, the doctor will also take into account the existing complications and the progression of myopia.
Parents should be aware that this problem cannot be completely eliminated. The most important task of therapy is to stop the pathology or slow its progression. It also includes vision correction and prevention of complications.
It is especially important to pay close attention to school myopia, which has a progressive form. It takes place if the child’s vision falls by more than half a diopter per year. Timely treatment started with such a pathology will give a greater number of chances for preserving vision.
Myopia correction
If myopia is detected in schoolchildren, treatment begins with the selection of glasses. This will allow for vision correction. By and large, this can not be called a treatment. However, glasses in childhood reduce the progression of myopia. This occurs by eliminating eye strain.
If myopia in school-aged children is weak or moderate, treatment with glasses should not consist in their constant wear. They are recommended only for distance. But it happens that the child feels quite comfortable and without glasses. In this case, you should not force them to wear.
A high degree of myopia or its progressive form can be detected in a child. In this case, the constant wearing of glasses is recommended. This is especially true when a student has divergent strabismus. Glasses will prevent amblyopia.
Older children can use contact lenses. They are especially relevant for anisometropia, when between the eyes there is a large difference in refraction (more than 2 diopters).
Orthokeratological method
What other methods of eliminating pathology can be if myopia is detected in schoolchildren? Sometimes treatment is carried out using the orthokeratological method. It provides for the child to wear special lenses. These devices change the shape of the cornea, making it more flat. However, it should be borne in mind that with this method, the elimination of pathology is possible only within one to two days. After this, the cornea restores its shape.
Using special tools
What other methods of eliminating pathology exist if myopia is detected in schoolchildren? Treatment may be with “relaxing glasses.” They have weakly positive lenses. This allows you to reduce accommodation.
Doctors have developed yet another glasses. They are called laser vision. Such glasses slightly improve vision in the distance, but they do not have a therapeutic effect. If nearsightedness occurs in school-age children, treatment at home can be carried out using special computer programs. They relax the eye muscles and relieve their spasm.
There are also a large number of hardware methods for treating myopia. These include vacuum massage and electrical stimulation, infrared-type laser therapy, etc.
Myopia Remedies
What medications treat myopia in schoolchildren? Drugs for getting rid of this pathology should be prescribed by a doctor together with performing special exercises, as well as observing the correct diet and daily routine.
In case of a weak degree of the disease, complexes consisting of minerals and vitamins are recommended. It is good if lutein is present in such preparations. Vitamin-mineral complexes are of great importance in eliminating myopia in children, as they will prevent the further development of pathology and reduce the likelihood of complications. Sometimes a specialist prescribes calcium preparations and Trental.
One of the causes of myopia can be dystrophy of the retina. How then to treat myopia in school-age children? Pills to eliminate this phenomenon should affect the vessels of the retina, improving blood circulation in them. This effect is exerted by the drugs "Vikasol", "Emoxicin", "Dicinon" and others. However, it should be borne in mind that vasodilators are not prescribed for existing hemorrhages.
In the case when the formation of pathological foci occurs with myopia, absorbable drugs are used. It can be such means as Lidaza and Fibrinolysin.
The use of medications for false myopia
In the case when myopia in a schoolboy is associated with spasm of the ocular ciliary muscle, there is a need for its relaxation. In this case, the eye specialist prescribes special drops for the child. Moreover, their use should be combined with the implementation of visual exercises.
The composition of relaxing drops includes atropine. This substance is found in the leaves and seeds of some plants and is a poisonous alkaloid. Drugs with atropine increase intraocular pressure. They dilate the pupil and lead to paralysis of accommodation. In other words, a change in focal length occurs. Paralysis caused by the action of the drug lasts for 4-6 hours, after which muscle relaxation occurs.
The course of such treatment usually lasts for a month. In this case, a drug such as Irifrin, which alternates with Midrialil or Tropicamide, can be used.
Surgery
With progressive myopia, as well as with the development of various complications, corrective therapy will not be able to cope with the pathology. In such cases, scleroplasty is used, which is one of the methods of surgical treatment. The basis for its implementation is rapidly exacerbating myopia (more than one diopter per year). As a result of the operation, the posterior pole of the eye is strengthened and its blood circulation improves.
What else can be applied to eliminate myopia in school-age children, treatment? Reviews from experts highly appreciate the possibilities of laser surgery. This method will be especially effective in case of a progressing illness as a measure for the prevention of retinal detachment and the appearance of tears in it.
Gymnastics for the eyes
In order to stop myopia in a child, it is necessary to use complex therapy, which, in addition to taking medications, should include non-pharmacological methods. One of them is eye gymnastics. The correct selection of exercises allows you to strengthen the muscles and exercise constant control over their condition. Moreover, such a complex is effective not only as a treatment, but also for the prevention of myopia.
And here you can use the exercises recommended by Zhdanov. This Russian scientist and public figure is known as the author of the method of restoring vision without surgery. In his methods, he combined some touches from the practice of yoga and the development of Bates.
How, when using this method, should myopia be eliminated in school-age children? Treatment according to Zhdanov involves the use of a complex that includes:
- palming (palms on closed eyes); - exercises with blinking; - relaxation with eyes closed with visualization of pleasant memories; - exercise "Snake", in which you should lead your eyes through an imaginary sinusoid; - Solarization, that is, a brief stop to look at a candle in a dark room.
Healthy foods
What should be done in order to eliminate myopia in school-age children, treatment? Food along with the therapy should include foods rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Especially important for the eyes are chromium and copper, zinc and magnesium. It is also advisable to eat foods rich in vitamins A and D.
Thus, for the treatment of myopia, you need to eat:
- black and gray bread, as well as its varieties with bran; - meat of poultry, rabbit, as well as lamb and beef; - seafood; - dairy, vegetarian and fish soups; - vegetables (fresh, colored, sea and sauerkraut, broccoli and beets, young green peas, bell peppers and carrots); - buckwheat, oatmeal, dark pasta; - dairy products; - eggs; - prunes, figs, dried apricots, raisins; - vegetable fats in the form of linseed, olive and mustard oil; - green tea, stewed fruit, fresh, jelly; - Fresh berries and fruits (peaches and sea buckthorn, melon and apricot, black and red currants, tangerines and grapefruits, oranges and aronia).
Food should consist of small servings that are consumed six times a day.
Traditional Medicine Tips
How else can myopia be eliminated in school-age children? Treatment with folk remedies is also very effective, but it should be carried out in conjunction with the exercise and the use of products rich in medicinal substances.
You can save a child from myopia with the help of herbs. To prepare a healing potion, a decoction of 15-20 grams of leaves and fruits of red mountain ash and 30 grams of dioecious nettle is prepared. Ingredients are poured into 400 ml of warm water, boiled over low heat for a quarter of an hour and insisted for 2 hours. Take half a glass in warm form 15 minutes before meals three times during the day.
Also, blueberries are excellent for the treatment of myopia and its prevention. This berry has a lot of manganese and other substances that are good for the eyes.
With myopia, your child may be able to help remedies that include needles. It is harvested in September, so that then the healing broths can be taken all winter.