Children's ophthalmologist warns about mistakes that harm a child's vision

Lack of treatment, comprehensive diagnostics using special equipment twice a year, reading lying down and other upbringing mistakes can seriously harm children's vision, said the founder and director of the Association of Children's Eye Clinics "Yasny Vzor", Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, pediatric ophthalmologist Igor Aznauryan.

“A routine examination in a clinic is only a visual acuity check using a table. This is not enough to detect amblyopia (a persistent decrease in visual acuity without its improvement with the help of correction means - ed.), early myopia or astigmatism,” explained Aznauryan. He recommends undergoing comprehensive diagnostics using special equipment twice a year in a specialized children’s clinic,” writes Gazeta.Ru.

In addition, perforated glasses, according to the doctor, do not cure - they only create the illusion of clarity. He emphasized that while parents use them, myopia progresses, and if the eyes become tired or distance vision deteriorates, the specialist advises immediately contacting a pediatric ophthalmologist.

Aznauryan noted that a child watches a cartoon in a stroller, and his eye is forced to focus on a close distance while moving. In addition, the stroller rocks, the picture jumps - the eyes are overstrained. According to him, this is a direct path to a spasm of accommodation and myopia, the professor warned. The doctor recommended removing the tablet and phone from the stroller: while walking, the child should look into the distance - the sky, trees, passers-by.

“Reading while lying down. When reading in this position, the distance to the book is constantly changing, the eyes are rearranging every second. In addition, the wrong lighting angle and asymmetrical load (especially on the side with support on the elbow) lead to myopia and astigmatism,” adds Gazeta.Ru.

The doctor advises reading only while sitting at a table with a straight back, the distance to the book is at least 30–35 centimeters, the light should fall from the left for right-handers, be bright, but not blinding.

Aznauryan emphasizes that cheap lamps flicker - this is an invisible stress for the eyes. Also, incorrect color temperature and insufficient brightness cause the child to squint, and one lamp without general light creates a sharp contrast with a dark room - the eyes quickly get tired.