If a child has poor eyesight, does it mean he is nearsighted?

Nowadays, children's lives are surrounded by television, computers, tablets, mobile phones, etc. Parents are worried about protecting their children from myopia. However, Dai Hongbin, chief physician, member of the standing committee of the Ophthalmology Branch of Hubei Provincial Chinese Medicine Association, and director of strabismus, amblyopia and pediatric ophthalmology at Wuhan University Aier Eye Hospital (Aier Eye Hospital Group Hubei General Hospital), wants to remind parents: In addition to common myopia, which needs to be prevented and controlled, amblyopia is also one of the major risks that endanger children's vision.

1. What is amblyopia?

Amblyopia is a decrease in the best corrected visual acuity of one or both eyes due to abnormal visual experience (monocular strabismus, anisometropia, high refractive error and form deprivation) during the period of visual development. Eye examination shows no organic lesions. This is not the same concept as "high degree of myopia" or "poor vision".

Normal vision development standards for children

1. At birth: poor vision, only a blurry shadow can be seen

2. After one year old: Vision begins to develop, and the corneal curvature basically reaches the adult level at two years old

3. The lower limit of normal vision for three-year-olds: 0.5

4. The lower limit of normal vision for four-year-olds: 0.6

5. The lower limit of normal vision for five-year-olds: 0.6

6. The lower limit of normal vision for six-year-olds: 0.7

7. Lower limit of normal value for children aged seven to eight: 0.8

8. After the age of eight: visual acuity develops to above 1.0

Simply put, if the corrected vision cannot reach normal vision after accurate medical optometry, and if there are no organic changes in the eyes related to vision loss in more detailed examinations, then it may be amblyopia.

Therefore, a child’s poor vision may be due to simple myopia, amblyopia or other eye diseases. Parents must be aware of their child’s vision abnormalities in time and seek medical attention in time to get an accurate diagnosis.

2. The harm of amblyopia

The words "seek medical treatment in time" are no joke. If a child has amblyopia but does not receive timely treatment and intervention, the impact on him may be lifelong - amblyopia not only causes low vision that cannot be corrected, but also leads to abnormal stereoscopic vision, that is, the child will not have an accurate three-dimensional sense of vision. These will seriously affect the child's quality of life and self-care ability, and will also affect future job choices and prospects.

Cai Chunyan, a doctoral student, associate chief physician, deputy leader of the Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Group of the Aier Eye Hospital Group in Hubei Province, and deputy director of Strabismus and Amblyopia and Pediatric Ophthalmology of the Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University (Aier Eye Hospital Group Hubei Headquarters), said: Amblyopia is seriously harmful. The period before the age of six is ​​a critical period for visual development and also a golden period for treating amblyopia. Seizing the critical period for intervention and treatment is of great significance to children.

3. Treatment of amblyopia

Treat as soon as possible - Once a child is diagnosed with amblyopia, parents should start treatment immediately. Because it involves the child's visual development, physical and mental health, the sooner the amblyopia is treated, the better.

Careful training - Corrective treatment for amblyopia generally includes occlusion therapy, visual training, etc. In addition to training in the hospital, parents are also required to follow the doctor's instructions to complete training at home.