This is a beta course, so its structure, chapters, and examples may continue to change.
Myopia Control in Adolescents
The core of adolescent myopia control: more outdoor time, less burden, and regular correction.
- Outdoor light: at least 2 hours a day in total; it delays the onset and progression of myopia.
- Sensible use of the eyes: after 30-40 minutes of close-up work, rest for 5-10 minutes and look into the distance.
- Optical approaches: defocus-design lenses and orthokeratology lenses (these require specialist assessment and follow-up).
- Medication: low-dose atropine (this requires a prescription from an ophthalmologist and follow-up).
- Keep a suitable reading distance (30-40cm), a good posture, and proper lighting.
- For screens, prefer a large display, a viewing distance, and moderate brightness, and cut back on long sessions in bed or in the car.
- Have regular refraction check-ups, and keep to the schedule especially when the prescription is changing quickly.
Sticking to “outdoors + scientific correction + sensible use of the eyes” works far better than any single measure.