Why do so many little kids have glasses these days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doctors are also prescribing glasses for very minor myopia. My optometrist just straight up said back in the day, they would have never prescribed my youngest glasses.

This definitely contributes to the "growing" number of children wearing glasses. This happened with my youngest until we suspected that we were duped by the optometrist and took DS to a different optometrist. The second optometrist was angry that he was prescribed glasses at all. DS stopped wearing glasses and he was fine. Its been a few years and he still has 20/20. My oldest (preemie) was followed for years by the head of Children's Hospital Ophthalmology Dept. He said the average kid's vision really starts to "settle" around age 10 and really shouldn't need glasses for really minor issues before then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think early detection and awareness is a big factor. When our daughter was 2, we were at a library story time and she kept wanting to go right up to the book. I chalked that up to her being, you know, 2. But the librarian said it could be a sign of a problem, and I mentioned it to her doctor, who recommended an eye screening just to be sure. And yep, she has astigmatism in one eye. Apparently, it’s great we caught it early and she’s avoided much more serious problems by getting glasses so young.

Wow, send that librarian a fruit basket!

[Anonymous]

Lots of people blaming screens, which I can say is not the case for my kid.

My daughter was flagged by the ped at 15th month visit (had never watched a screen at that point) for a severe astigmatism in one eye that was causing amblyopia. They held something up and took a photo of her eyes. My older child had not had that done, so a newish technology at that time. (Kids are now older.) If amblyopia is not caught and treated early, kids will have permanently reduced corrected vision in one eye. My daughter did patching and wore glasses from age 2 on.

They are just much better at catching issues then they used to be is a big part of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shoving a screen in their face to shut them up so young has its consequences.

Seriously shut up. You have zero idea what you're talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Overuse of smartphones and Ipads (but not TV screens apparently).
Ipads and smartphones have small screens so children look at them too closely. You don't usually have this problem with TV screens.

Also, lack of outdoor time and earlier formal education.

All these plus genetics could explain myopia in young children.

Screens DO NOT EXPLAIN THIS. Babies do not use screens!!! Babies still get glasses!

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Screen time, plus not going outside as much due to covid restrictions. Being indoors too much can cause myopia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The survival rates for most preemies born in the 80s and today are similar. We can save the very early edge cases now that generally wouldn’t have survived 40 years ago though. But that’s only a small fraction of preemies.

It’s mostly early detection and early intervention.

Is this true?! Survival rates for preemies in the 80s are the same as today?

[Anonymous]

Screen use earlier

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overuse of smartphones and Ipads (but not TV screens apparently).
Ipads and smartphones have small screens so children look at them too closely. You don't usually have this problem with TV screens.

Also, lack of outdoor time and earlier formal education.

All these plus genetics could explain myopia in young children.

Screens DO NOT EXPLAIN THIS. Babies do not use screens!!! Babies still get glasses!

Thank you.

+1

My 12 month old was not in front of screens and needed glasses. these posters are insane and obsessed with limiting screentime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Screen time, plus not going outside as much due to covid restrictions. Being indoors too much can cause myopia.

I don't know how many babies are using screens, but being indoors too much has definitely been proven. The eyes need to be able to focus on items that are varying distances, including long distance, and that's not possible if kids are inside all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Screen time, plus not going outside as much due to covid restrictions. Being indoors too much can cause myopia.

I don't know how many babies are using screens, but being indoors too much has definitely been proven. The eyes need to be able to focus on items that are varying distances, including long distance, and that's not possible if kids are inside all day.

Yes, sorry, two different thoughts there. Being inside too much definitely affects babies' eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m talking preschoolers and elementary schoolers. There were relatively fewer kids in my day. And I was born in 1987 so it’s not like it was the stone ages where no one was taking eye exams.

More vision screening and affordability of glasses. It’s good, not bad. Also less physical and more indoor activities for children, including books and screens. Higher survival rate for premature babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The survival rates for most preemies born in the 80s and today are similar. We can save the very early edge cases now that generally wouldn’t have survived 40 years ago though. But that’s only a small fraction of preemies.

It’s mostly early detection and early intervention.

Is this true?! Survival rates for preemies in the 80s are the same as today?

No. Survival rates for preemies, especially the extreme preemies have increased over the last 40 years. Even throughout the 2000s.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/16/survival-of-premature-babies-more-likely-now-than-in-mid-1990s-study-shows

https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2022/02/08/premature-babies-survival-rate-is-climbing-study-says/

[Anonymous]

Historically, kids under 5, stayed home and lived relaxed an unrushed lives. Today from getting up and getting ready for daycare before parents leave for work to getting rushed to bed and in between with structured life at day care, it’s a different childhood then before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Historically, kids under 5, stayed home and lived relaxed an unrushed lives. Today from getting up and getting ready for daycare before parents leave for work to getting rushed to bed and in between with structured life at day care, it’s a different childhood then before.

What does that have to do with a child having to wear glasses?