20
electric children
The HEALTH | NOVEMBER, 2018
Kid’s myopia
progression
RF123
Examples of myopia progression.
especially in defective vision of
distant objects. In normal vision,
the image is formed on the retina.
Defective vision of distant objects
How to
reduce
myopia
progression
in children
V I S T A Eye Specialist
Cataract & Refractive Surgeon
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Dr Vienne Tai Pih Yih recom-
mended 10 things that parents
can do to reduce progression of
kid’s myopia.
Outdoor activities: Spend two
hours on outdoor activities
daily or at least 10 hours per
week as sunlight stimulates
dopamine to prevent elonga-
tion of the eyeball. This is the
most important measure to
reduce progression of kid’s
myopia.
Limit device usage: Long hours
and excessive usage of devices
can contribute to eyestrain
which causes elongation of the
eyeball (myopia progression).
20-20-20 magic: Every 20 min-
utes spent on the screen, look
away at something that is 20
feet away for 20 seconds.
Viewing distance and good
reading posture: Ensure
devices or reading material are
at a distance of 25 to 30 cm (one
arm length). Sit upright, avoid
lying down or tilting your head
abnormally.
Bright ambience: Do not use
devices or read while in dimly
lit spaces. It will cause visual
stress.
Avoid eye rubbing: Frequent
eye rubbing may induce
astigmatism.
Don’t undercorrect glasses:
It can cause defocus on the
retina which will contribute to
myopia progression and may
also pose issues on learning
and safety.
Adequate sleep: Children
need an average of seven to
nine hours of sleep daily for
optimum eye development and
learning ability.
Nutrition: A good diet consist-
ing of vegetables and fruits
provides beneficial nutrients
for development of your child’s
vision.
Myopia control programme:
Structured programme with
the help of modern optical
technology and lifestyle
modification can aid in slowing
down myopia.
Alarming facts on Myopia
The progression of myopia is a
global issue! A recent study states
that on average, 30 per cent of the
world is currently myopic. Going
by current trends, this number will
rise to 50 per cent or a staggering
five billion people by 2050 with
almost one billion children being
affected by high myopia as well.
Statistics
Global trends in myopia
management attitudes
and strategies in clinical
practice; Contact lens
and anterior eye, 2016
ASIA
Eye doctors speak up on
myopia
70
87
to
per cent of school
children and young
adults are reported with
myopia
Epidemiology of Myopia.
Asia-Pacific Journal of
Ophthalmology
In East Asian children,
myopia progression
rate is high and
approximately
24
per cent of this myopic
population will have
high myopes (short
sightedness) as adults.
The difference between (left) normal vision and (right) myopia.
W
ITH each
visit to the
optician,
my kids are
prescribed
glasses
with
a
higher power. How do I manage
this? I am concerned! What can I
do as a parent?” This is probably a
very familiar sentiment that many
parents today share.
Without a doubt, in this day
and age, there is added ‘stress’ on
our kids’ vision. They ‘consume’
more information digitally and
spend excessive screen time on
their devices. Many also com-
promise on time spent outdoors,
which in the overall scheme of
things, affects the ‘balance’ in eye
and overall health.
So, how do we help kids with
their increasing myopia? Is there
a sustainable solution?
Understanding myopia
Myopia is a condition where
the image is formed in front of
the retina of the eye, resulting
Vista Eye Specialist Cataract &
Refractive Surgeon Consultant
Ophthalmologist Dr Vienne Tai
Pih Yih explained that many fac-
tors contribute to the accelerating
progression of kids myopia.
“Kids today spend too much
time indoors on their electronic
devices and do not place enough
emphasis on outdoor activities.
Poor reading posture and a lack
of sleep are also contributing fac-
tors,” she said.
Commenting further, VISTA
Eye Specialist Consultant Oph-
thalmic Surgeon Dr Calvin Lim
Chung Yee advised parents to
observe their child’s eye usage
behaviour as early as six months
old and to arrange for regular eye
examinations from three years of
age to screen for any underlying
eye problems or refractive issues
and for early intervention.
Both children between three to
12 years of age and teens from 13 to
18 years of age are recommended
Carbohydrates and dental carries
S
DENTISTRY.CO.UK
eventy five per cent of Malaysian
pre-school children have caries. The
Ministry of Health (MOH) National
Oral Health Survey 2005 revealed that
among 5-year olds, caries prevalence was
76.2 per cent with a mean decayed, missing
and filled teeth score of 5.6.
IMU lecturer Dr Megan Chong Hueh
Zan attributed this to poor parental knowl-
edge about oral health.
“Many parents; from lack of aware-
ness tend to initiate their children’s oral
hygiene at two years old. By this time, it
is quite likely that the child’s first dental
caries has appeared.”
Among the biological risk factors are
nutritional variables, feeding habits and
early colonisation of cariogenic micro-
organisms, while social risk factors include
parental education and knowledge and
socio-economic status.
Why prevention is important
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) affects the
quality of life of families and the affected
children and may affect nutritional status.
“Pain and subsequent tooth loss may
also cause difficulty in eating, speaking,
sleeping, have psychological impacts on
confidence and socialising.”
“Prevention is the key for ECC, and
this can be achieved successfully by
knowledgeable and efficacious caregivers.
Maintenance of good dietary practices,
good oral hygiene control as well as the use
of fluoridated toothpaste are essential.”
What can parents do
High frequency consumption of sugary
foods and drinks are risk indicators for
caries.
“All fermentable carbohydrates includ-
ing sugars and starch containing foods and
Smartphones and your child
Technology has done a lot to make
our lives easier and more efficient.
Yet as a parent, you ought to be
concerned about the impact that
devices such as smartphones can
have on your child.
Even while smartphones can be
convenient, they alter the bonding
that is supposed to exist between a
parent and child.
With easy access through a smart-
phone to a majority of their play,
kids now have a platform to be bom-
barded with various exciting games.
These games limit their creativity
and imaginations and slow their
motor and optical sensory develop-
ment. In addition to this, it causes
them to get less sleep, resulting in
later bedtimes and more fatigue.
Early childhood caries affects the
nutritional status of a child.
drinks have the potential to encourage the
growth of cariogenic bacteria.”
Research showed that non-milk extrin-
sic sugar (NMES) are prime contributors
of tooth decay.
“NMES are sugars not contained
within the cellular structure except
lactose in milk and milk products and are
found in cakes and biscuits, chocolate
confectionery, buns, sugared breakfast
cereals, ice-cream, fruit juices and sugared
drinks.’
THE ASIAN PARENT