Silvia González, optometrist: “If we don’t intervene in childhood, it’s more difficult to stop the progression of myopia later on”
Forecasts indicate that by 2050 half of the world's population will suffer from this visual impairment that makes it difficult to see distant objects clearly.
Myopia has become one of the fastest-growing vision disorders in recent years and an increasing concern for public health systems. Forecasts indicate that by 2050, approximately half of the global population will have myopia, and about 10% will develop high myopia.
Beyond the need for vision correction, myopia can have significant health, economic, and psychological consequences. In more advanced cases, associated eye complications can be serious and may even threaten vision. In addition, the growing number of patients with high myopia places a substantial burden on healthcare systems, reinforcing its status as a global public health issue.
In this context, Los Madroños University Hospital, together with Silvia González, an optometrist at the center, emphasizes the importance of early action through seven key points that help explain myopia and how to slow its progression.
The first is prevention during childhood. The eye grows from birth until about 7 to 8 years of age. In some cases, that growth is excessive, causing the tissues of the eye to stretch and become more fragile, which increases the risk of complications. “If we do not intervene during childhood, when the eye is still developing, it becomes much harder to slow the progression of myopia later on,” explains González.
Detection is not always easy, and the school environment plays a crucial role. The main symptom is difficulty focusing on distant objects. In children, this often shows up as trouble seeing the board in class, a sign that teachers often notice before families do. Children frequently adapt to poor vision and may not realize there is a problem, which can delay diagnosis. That is why schools play such an important role in early detection.
Healthy habits
The specialist also stresses the importance of the combination of genetics, environment, and lifestyle habits. The risk of developing myopia increases when one or both parents are nearsighted, especially in cases of high myopia, which gives the child a greater predisposition from the start. Added to that are environmental and lifestyle factors, which are playing an increasingly important role.
Research has also shown that outdoor activities can reduce the risk of developing myopia by as much as 50%. For that reason, it is recommended that children spend about 40 minutes to 2 hours per day outdoors. “Exposure to natural light and looking at distant objects act as protective factors against the development of myopia,” González notes.
In addition, today’s lifestyle encourages near-focused visual environments, with growing use of electronic devices and other close-up activities. To reduce the impact, experts recommend adopting healthy visual habits.
The optometrist explains that “following the 12/30/30 rule - reading from more than 12 inches away, taking a break every 30 minutes, and looking into the distance for at least 30 seconds - along with good lighting and avoiding extremely short viewing distances, can help reduce visual strain. These are simple measures that can influence how myopia progresses.”
Slowing its progression
As González explains, current treatments are aimed at slowing the excessive growth of the eye. The goal is not only to correct vision, but also to prevent myopia from progressing to more severe forms that could compromise eye health. Treatment plans are tailored according to the patient’s age, the presence of risk factors, and the degree of myopia at the time of diagnosis.
Available options include prescription eye drops, daily or overnight contact lenses, and specialized eyeglass lenses designed to slow the progression of myopia.
Addressing myopia should go beyond treatment alone. Prevention, early diagnosis, and education about healthy visual habits are essential to reducing its impact. “Myopia is not just a matter of not seeing well at a distance, but an eye condition that can worsen if it is not properly managed,” González concludes.
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