The result of technological progress and universal computerization has been a rapid deterioration in people's vision . According to statistics, approximately every third inhabitant of the planet has myopia, or myopia, 1 degree. What is it, it was known back in the days of Aristotle, who noticed that some people squint when viewing distant objects. But then it was a rarity, now many people can see clearly only what is located close to them. Usually, the disease develops in childhood, and by the age of 15, one third of schoolchildren are diagnosed with grade 1 myopia.
What it is
A healthy eye sees because light rays, reflected from different objects, are projected onto its retina and create an image. If myopia develops, then this happens because the eyeball lengthens slightly. As a result, the image is not projected onto the retina, but slightly in front of it. Therefore, a person with myopia does not see distant objects clearly. Modern experts believe that this can occur due to underdevelopment of the muscles of the lens. Therefore, the eye becomes more oval and cannot normally perform its functions. The disease can be of different types. By how far the image is projected from the retina, weak, medium and strong myopia is distinguished. There is still myopia, progressive or complicated by other eye diseases. But most often there is myopia of the 1st degree. What it is is known to many mothers of school-age children. The disease usually begins before the age of 18. Then vision can only deteriorate or remain at the same level.
Causes of the disease
- Heredity .
Experts estimate that more than half of the children in whom both parents have myopia have poor eyesight. If the parents are healthy, then only 10% can develop myopia.
- Non-observance of the rules of visual hygiene .
Prolonged use of a computer and mobile devices or improper body position and reading light quickly lead to visual impairment. Excessive eye strain when viewing small objects causes relaxation of the muscles that hold the lens in normal condition.
- Improper nutrition .
Due to the lack of certain vitamins and minerals in the diet, for example zinc and manganese, it leads to improper development of sclera tissues.
- Vascular disease.
They lead to insufficient blood supply to the tissues of the eye.
- Other health disorders.
It can be birth injuries, severe infectious diseases, hormonal disruptions, poisoning with drugs or chemicals. All this adversely affects the state of vision.
Symptoms of the disease
Most often, myopia of the 1st degree in both eyes is already observed in children of 7 years. Sometimes it is difficult for parents to recognize the first symptoms of the disease. They can only be manifested in the fact that the child often squints or tilts his head to consider
something far away. When reading and looking at close objects there are no problems. This is the main symptom of the disease, therefore, having noticed it, you need to show the child to the doctor. If treatment is not started on time, myopia can progress. Most often this happens before 20-22 years, but visual impairment can occur at an older age. Progressive myopia without treatment can lead to retinal detachment and blindness. To head impairment, frequent headaches and quick visual fatigue are sometimes added. Therefore, you need to seriously take the fact that the child was diagnosed with myopia of the 1st degree.
How to treat a disease
Now there are three ways to improve vision:
- Correction with glasses and lenses.
- Treatment with gymnastics, physiotherapy or vitamin therapy.
- Surgical intervention - laser correction or scleroplasty.
Typically, the method of treatment is selected by the doctor depending on the age of the patient, his health status and the degree of visual impairment. It is easiest to help a child if he has myopia of the 1st degree. The treatment in this case will consist in the fact that the little patient is assigned glasses that he should not wear constantly. Special exercises for the eyes, vitamins with lutein, color-pulse therapy, electro-sound, phonophoresis and pneumomassage are also prescribed. Up to 22 years old, vision correction using surgery is carried out only in very rare cases.
Myopia of the 1st degree in children
Acquired myopia is very rare in preschool age. Most often, the disease is congenital in nature. If this happens, then the first symptoms are observed already at the age of 1 year. Later likelihood of developing myopia
decreases because the child’s eye is growing and its structure is changing. Usually, vision begins to deteriorate in children at school age. This is due to an increase in visual load and non-compliance with hygiene rules. To correct the disease under the age of 20 years, glasses are used that are not necessary to wear constantly. To choose the right glass, you need to accurately determine the state of vision of the child. To do this, during the examination, Atropine is instilled into the eyes, which causes relaxation of the ciliary muscle.
Myopia prevention
To prevent vision deterioration, preventive measures must be taken. Most of all this applies to children from 7 years old, because in adults rarely myopia progresses. What you need to do:
- monitor the nutrition of the child, he should receive with food all the necessary vitamins and minerals;
- ensure proper seating and lighting when reading and writing;
- Prevent prolonged viewing of TV and being at the computer;
- teach a child to fulfill special offers for the eyes.
Now more and more often children graduate from school with a diagnosis of myopia of the 1st degree. What is this, parents need to know to prevent visual impairment.