Optometrists warn that 66 percent of 8-year-olds could be short-sighted by 2028 due to low hyperopic reserve. Learn prevention tips and eye exam advice.
Tags:More than 60% of eight-year-olds could develop short-sightedness by 2028, according to optometrists who are warning about a decline in children’s natural hyperopic reserve.
The prediction follows eye screenings of more than 3,500 primary school pupils. Among six-year-olds, 67% were found to have a hyperopic reserve below the recommended level, while 24% were already short-sighted.
Hyperopic reserve is the slight natural farsightedness children are born with. As their eyes grow, this reserve gradually decreases. If it disappears too early, the risk of developing myopia increases significantly.
Based on previous research, specialists estimate that about 66% of the six-year-olds identified with low reserve could become short-sighted within two years.
Eye-care professionals say early detection is essential because lost hyperopic reserve cannot be restored and myopia cannot be reversed. They recommend comprehensive eye examinations from around age three.
Parents are also encouraged to give children more outdoor time, reduce prolonged screen use, maintain a proper reading distance and posture, and make sure children get enough rest.
Experts say many families only arrange eye examinations after a child complains about poor vision or fails a school screening, meaning problems may already be advanced by the time they are discovered.
One seven-year-old boy was found to have a major difference between his two eyes after failing a screening. His eyesight later worsened, but after using myopia-control glasses, reducing screen time and taking part in more outdoor activities such as swimming, running and badminton, his condition became more stable.
Specialists are calling for greater public awareness and stronger measures to protect children’s eyesight as childhood myopia continues to rise.
No comments:
Post a Comment