Cases of Farsightedness in Children Increase, Parents are Asked to Watch Out for Symptoms Early

JAKARTA - Myopia or farsightedness in children is now one of the eye health problems that are increasingly often found, especially at school age. This condition also makes it difficult for children to see objects that are far away, such as writing on the blackboard or signs on the road.

In recent years, the increased use of mobile devices, long-term close-range viewing activities, and the lack of outdoor activities have been said to contribute to the increase in myopia cases in children.

If not treated early, myopia can continue to develop until it becomes high myopia which risks triggering serious vision disorders in the future.

In Indonesia itself, attention to childhood myopia is also increasing. Research shows that almost 54% of school-age children in urban areas such as Jakarta suffer from myopia.

The International Myopia Institute categorizes high myopia as minus 6 diopters or more. This condition needs to be watched out for because it can increase the risk of retinal ablasio, glaucoma, cataracts, to myopic macular degeneration which has the potential to cause severe vision impairment or even blindness.

Even at lower levels of myopia, the risk of complications is still higher than in individuals without myopia. Reducing the progressivity of myopia even by 1 diopter is considered to help reduce the risk of complications later.

As part of efforts to educate about the importance of early treatment of myopia, EssilorLuxottica presents the first Essilor Stellest Corner in Indonesia at the National Eye Center (PMN) of Cicendo Eye Hospital, Bandung.

This educational area is intended to help parents obtain information related to the detection and management of myopia in children, as well as supporting eye health professionals in providing education to patients and families.

"As a national referral center, we have a great responsibility not only to treat, but also to educate the public about the increasing threat of high myopia. This collaboration brings together our clinical expertise with global technological innovation to ensure parents have access to accurate and evidence-based information. We hope that the presence of this educational corner will become a new standard in our joint efforts to save the vision of Indonesia's future generation,"

This was stated by Dr. dr. Antonia Kartika, Sp.M(K), M.Kes, President Director of PMN Eye Hospital Cicendo Bandung, in his statement to VOI, Tuesday, May 19.

Myopia in children generally develops gradually and is often only realized when it begins to interfere with learning activities.

Some signs or symptoms of myopia that need to be considered include children often squinting their eyes, sitting too close to the television or gadget screen, having difficulty seeing the writing on the board, to complaining of headaches or eye fatigue.

In addition to genetic factors, the habit of looking at close distances for too long, reading distance too close, and lack of outdoor activities are also associated with an increased risk of myopia.

"The presence of an educational space like this is important to help families understand that myopia in children is not enough to be corrected, but also needs to be detected and treated from the beginning so that the risk of more serious vision disorders later can be suppressed," said dr. Susanti Natalya, Sp.M(K), M.Kes, from PMN Eye Hospital Cicendo in the Refraction, Low Vision and Contact Lens Division.

Early treatment is considered important to help slow the progression of myopia. So far, the use of single-vision glasses or contact lenses generally only helps clarify vision, but does not necessarily inhibit the progression of myopia.

Therefore, a more comprehensive approach is needed, ranging from the application of healthier visual habits to the use of handling methods specifically designed to control the development of myopia.

Currently, there are several treatment options, such as myopia management lenses, special contact lenses, to atropine therapy. For some parents who are concerned about the side effects of eye drops or the risk of using contact lenses on children, myopia management glasses can be an alternative.

One of the technologies now available is H.A.L.T. (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target), which is designed to help slow down the progression of myopia in children by creating certain optical signals to inhibit the elongation of the eyeball.

"Our mission at EssilorLuxottica is to empower people and improve their quality of life through better vision care. We hope that more Indonesian families understand the symptoms, the importance of early treatment, and the importance of early treatment to help reduce the risk of future eye disorders related to myopia," said Dailami Aziz, Country Manager EssilorLuxottica Indonesia.

Essilor Stellest itself was developed based on long-term research in the field of myopia management. Clinically, this lens is said to be able to help slow down the progression of myopia compared to single-vision lenses when used regularly as recommended.

The H.A.L.T. technology used works by creating a non-focused volume of light in front of the retina to help slow down the elongation of the eyeball associated with the development of myopia.

Long-term follow-up studies also show that the effectiveness persists for several years of use. Interventions from an early age are considered to have a positive impact on the future vision quality of children, especially in reducing the risk of developing high myopia and its complications.