“Until recently, the main cause of myopia in children was the genetic load of the parents, however, given the excessive increase in the use of electronic devices that occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, what we call a myopia epidemic is emerging, and it is estimated that 1 in 2 children will be myopic in the next few years. These last two years of virtual classes and the lack of outdoor activities have affected the visual health of the little ones, ”says Dr. Karin Arellano, an ophthalmologist at our clinic.

What is myopia?

It is a very frequent visual problem on which we can see very well up close but very poorly at a distance. According to the World Health Organization, 2.6 billion people around the world are myopic. In the case of children, it is because by spending much more time using their near vision (on various electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets, and computers), they contract their muscle of accommodation and then myopia appears, affecting their vision and requiring then in many cases the use of glasses if there is a predisposition.

What are the most common symptoms of myopia?

• The child does not see well at a distance, which causes him to get too close to the screens
• Rubbing eyes due to eye strain
• Constantly winks
• The child might have headaches
• The child begins to evidence poor school performance, among other

How is childhood myopia diagnosed?

For the diagnosis of myopia, a refraction (vision measurement) is performed. In the case of children, a cycloplegia (dilation with drops) is often performed. This way the measurements will be more accurate.

What are the alternatives to treat myopia?

Myopia is treated with negative or diverging lenses. If the patient reaches a stable measurement at 20 years of age, with an adequate cornea, he may be a candidate for refractive surgery to stop wearing the lenses.

Our specialist recommends:

• Limit the time of use of all electronic devices: television, computer, mobile phone.
• Take into account the appropriate distances for the use of electronic devices: mobile phone at 30 cm, tablet at 40 cm and computer at 50 cm away.
• Limit the use of computers and electronic devices to 1 hour a day in children aged 2 to 5 years. Establish exposure limits in children over 6 years of age and avoid the use of screens in children under 2 years of age.
• Take 20 seconds of rest every 20 minutes of exposure to electronic devices looking at a distant object at about 6 meters.
• Blink frequently to avoid dry eye.
• Choose natural lighting over artificial light.

Dr. Karin Arellano
Ophthalmologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma