How to detect myopia in children as early as possible? What are the symptoms of myopia?

We often encounter children who go to the hospital for their first eye checkup and are found to have a high degree of myopia, which makes parents regret it. So, how can we detect children's myopia as early as possible?

Early symptoms of myopia

1. Blurred vision

Children report that they cannot see the writing on the blackboard clearly, or often complain that the light in the room is too dim.

2. Often squint when looking at distant objects

This is because when you squint, the upper and lower eyelids can block part of the pupil, forming a "pinhole effect", which increases the clarity of the image and improves vision.

3. Keep your eyes close to the ground when doing homework

The child puts his eyes very close when doing homework or looking at things; he reports that the words seem to be double or floating when reading; and he experiences brief blurred vision when he looks at something far away and then lowers his head to look near, or when he looks at a nearby object and then raises his head to look far away.

4. Frequent blinking

Frequent blinking can relieve the symptoms of blurred vision to a certain extent and temporarily improve vision.

5. Frowning frequently

Some children with myopia have a habit of frowning as a way of trying to improve their vision.

6. Often tilt your head to look at objects

Tilting the head to look at objects can reduce the impact of scattered light on their vision. If you find that your child often tilts his head to look at objects, it may also be caused by strabismus, nystagmus, etc.

7. Squinting when looking at things

Some children with myopia often have the habit of exotropia (that is, when one eye of the child looks forward, the other eye will involuntarily look outward), and parents should also pay attention to this.

Experts advise

Xu Fei, deputy chief physician, director of strabismus, amblyopia and pediatric ophthalmology at the Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University (Aier Eye Hospital Group Hubei Headquarters), reminds: If your child has already shown the above symptoms, please take your child to a professional ophthalmology hospital for a comprehensive eye examination in time to prevent the further development of myopia and the occurrence of other eye diseases.