Myopia, or nearsightedness, has become increasingly common among children. This rise is not due to genetics but to the demands modern life places on our visual systems. As Dr. Rick Graebe, a pediatric eye doctor in Versailles, Kentucky, explains, “We were made to be buffalo hunters, not computer operators.” His words reflect how our eyes, designed for distance and movement, are now subjected to hours of close-up tasks like reading, writing, and staring at screens.
Understanding the Causes of Myopia
The increase in myopia isn’t hereditary—it’s an adaptation to our modern environment. A key study from 1968, which examined 130 pre-literate Eskimos, revealed that only two of the adults were nearsighted. However, a staggering 60% of the children, who were reading and writing in school, had developed myopia. This study underscores the impact of close-up tasks like schoolwork on young eyes.
Today, children spend up to 70% of their day on activities that require close focus, such as reading, writing, and working on computers. The additional use of smartphones and other small screens further strains their eyes. This constant stress on their visual system can cause the shape of their eyeballs to change, leading to nearsightedness.
How Myopia Affects Children’s Daily Lives
When children struggle with myopia, they may find close-up tasks difficult or exhausting. As Dr. Graebe notes, “A twenty-minute homework assignment can take two hours, which can lead to nightly homework wars.” Some children might avoid close-up work entirely, while others take much longer to complete assignments.
Traditional corrective lenses may help children see more clearly, but they don’t solve the underlying issue. Over time, the child’s myopia will worsen unless more proactive treatment is provided.
How Vision Therapy Can Help
Thankfully, myopia can be treated in children with the right approach. Dr. Graebe’s Vision Therapy program offers a long-term solution by addressing the root causes of myopia. Vision Therapy, a type of physical therapy for the eyes and brain, combined with therapeutic lenses, can help reverse nearsightedness in children.
Dr. Graebe shares a story of one of his patients, a 12-year-old boy from Louisville who had 20/40 vision. After using therapeutic lenses only while reading, the boy’s vision improved to 20/20 within a year. “I now see about a patient a month and treat this way, and it works,” Dr. Graebe says. In many cases, children see improvement within just a few weeks of treatment.
This treatment offers a life-changing solution for children with myopia, ensuring that their vision improves rather than worsens as they grow.
Schedule an Eye Exam in the Lexington Area Today
If your child is struggling with nearsightedness, don’t wait for their vision to deteriorate further. At Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, Dr. Rick Graebe and his team offer specialized treatments to improve vision in children. With locations in Versailles, serving the greater Lexington area, and Somerset, we are proud to be one of the few pediatric eye care specialists serving Central and Southern Kentucky.
Call us at 859-879-0089 to schedule an appointment today and give your child the gift of clearer vision!
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This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.