May 1, 2025
By Kevin Chan, OD, MS, FAAO, IACMM
Parents strongly influence and support the well-being of children and shape their growth trajectory. Understandably, the opportunities to better children’s vision do not depend on children themselves. Instead, they are largely driven by how much parents understand about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment options for their kids.
As the global prevalence of myopia continues to soar, parents play a pivotal role in providing the best possible opportunities for their children’s eye health. As an eye care provider, I found that the time spent with parents is just as important as providing quality care for their children. It is key to helping children shape the trajectory of their eye health and their overall development.
Parenting Trends
Did you know that many parents feel the pressure of being a ‘good parent’ under the societal standard? According to a national survey of 3,757 U.S. parents with children younger than 18 conducted post-COVID in 2022, 36% of parents stated that being a parent has been “somewhat harder” compared with how they thought parenting would be. Interestingly, parents of color, particularly Asian, 47% preferred raising their children somewhat differently compared with their own upbringings (PEW Research Center).
Applying it to Eye Care
What does it all mean in eye care? How does it apply to the realm of myopia care for children? The roles of parents continue to evolve across generations. We need to understand the influence that parents have on their children to help develop effective strategies for myopia management.
The Importance of Comprehensive Eye Exams
First, as an eye care provider, it is fundamental to help parents establish a clear understanding of why having a comprehensive eye exam and early detection of myopia for their children is paramount. Although most parents know the importance of eye exams for their children, surprisingly, less than half actually take their kids for an eye exam until symptoms arise or their kids report them. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), every child is recommended to have their first eye exam as young as six months old. Timely diagnosis and detection of myopia is key for lifelong vision and success.
Prioritize Outdoor Time
Second, parents should encourage and advocate for their children to have more outdoor time and activities. This approach can help mitigate the risks of myopia progression, or even protect against the onset of myopia. In the modern digitized era, excess screen time or near work has become a ‘new norm’ for parents and children. Parents are recommended to not just ‘tell’ children to go outside, but also to engage in outdoor time with them. This promotes overall physical and mental health as a family together.
Healthy Habits are Key
Third, parents can positively influence how their child engages with healthy habits proactively. Start by fostering an environment in which children can have balanced opportunities of physical activities and screen time. Set up a well-lit room and encourage ample reading distance supported by taking eye rests periodically. Also aim to model for children the importance of maintaining a balanced diet rich in eye-healthy nutrients, such as berries or green leafy vegetables. In fact, the notion or belief of ‘myopia control’ has been somewhat inflated. It isn’t scientifically sound, since there is no one foolproof way to ‘control’ myopia deterioration. Rather, the framework of ‘managing’ myopia encompasses proper implementation of treatment strategies as well as effective patient education of vision, behavior, nutrition. This is also called ‘VBN,’ as a triad.
Making a Positive Impact
Parental influence can undoubtedly be life-changing for managing myopia in children. Expecting a child to follow and adhere to clinical recommendations warrants more than making ‘dog whistles’ alone.
For clinicians, it is crucial to facilitate effective communication with parents. We need to keep them informed with the latest knowledge regarding childhood myopia and management strategies – even BEFORE their first eye exam. By doing so, the journey of myopia management is no longer a one-person task or responsibility. Parents can certainly become your best ‘ally’ or ‘influencer’ in making a positive impact for their child’s journey of combating myopia.
