Nowadays, the number of myopic people is getting bigger and bigger, and more and more children are suffering from myopia.

How much does it affect the children when their parents are nearsighted?

If parents have myopia and the myopia is still increasing, will it have a bad influence on their children?

Let's learn more about the causes of nearsightedness in children, the associated health risks, and proactive preventive measures.

1. What is the probability that parents with high myopia will pass it on to their children?

At present, the academic community has reached a consensus on the causes of myopia: genetics, environmental factors, and behavioral habits work together to cause myopia.

Although the statement "parents with high myopia will pass it on to their children" is a bit absolute, a parent's history of myopia has an impact on the development and progression of myopia in their children.

Studies have shown that all things being equal, children with one myopic parent are 2.1 times more likely to develop myopia compared to children with no myopia, and the likelihood of myopia increases to 4.9 times for children with two myopic parents. The degree of parental myopia has also been shown to be associated with faster progression of myopia.

The study found that children with myopic parents had a 63-degree increase in myopia and progressed faster in myopia than children without myopic parents (42-degree increase in one year). Therefore, if both parents have myopia or even high myopia, it is necessary to pay attention to the child's refractive development and establish the child's refractive index at an early stage for standardized monitoring.

2. How will the future baby be affected if the myopia of the parents is still increasing?

Parents should consult an ophthalmologist to see if the myopia is pure or caused by other reasons. After having a child, the child should be screened for vision and refractive status at an early age. If your child develops early-onset myopia (myopia before the age of 6 years), it is prudent to check for family history and consult an ophthalmologist as early as possible to monitor the refractive error and visual development.

3. If your child has inherited myopia from his/her parents, how can it be effectively controlled?

If your child has already developed myopia, parents should bring their child to an ophthalmology specialist to establish a complete refractive profile to monitor the progression of myopia and refractive development, choose the appropriate myopia correction method for refractive correction, and keep an eye on the development of visual acuity.

At the same time, lifestyle adjustments should also be made, preferably two hours a day for outdoor activities and sunbathing, while reducing the use of electronic products and close work.