8 year old with eyesight of -4.00

Question

Hi,

I visited an optometrist today for my 8 year old yearly eye checkup. His prescription has increased a lot. I am worried this will become much worse as he grows older. I am wondering if there are any ways that I can stop his vision from becoming worse, like eye exercises, diet, or medication. Please advice. Should I visit another ophthalmologist to check my son another time?

Prescription on 12/4/2014 by an MD:
OD:  Sphere -2.50, Cyl +1.75, Axis 87
OS:  Sphere -3.00, Cyl +1.75, Axis 85

Comments: CRx +0.50 sph -0.25 cyl

Prescription on 01/14/2016 by an OD:
OD:  Sphere -3.00, Cyl +1.75, Axis 93
OS:  Sphere -4.00, Cyl +1.50, Axis 90
Treatment AR

Thanks,
Mohan

JohnHaganMD · Accepted Answer

It would be very important that the OD have done the glasses test (refraction) AFTER the pupils were dilated. If drops were not used to dilate the eye or the refraction not done after dilation the glasses are often made too strong. 

If the second refraction was done after dilation by the OD then its likely your child has gotten more myopic. There really isn't a huge difference over the past year.  0.50 RE and 1.00 LE.

There are no exercises that prevent myopia. HOWEVER studies have shown that children that spend more time OUTDOORS on a regular basis have less myopia and slower myopia progression than "indoor kids".  Read this link carefully:  http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/851050

JohnHaganMD · Answer

In passing note that recent research indicate that outdoor time in play or sports has been associated with less myopia and less progression of myopia. 

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/851050

Mohan_n · Answer

Thanks Doctor for your time and responses.

I will have my son checked by an ophthalmologist eye MD.

JohnHaganMD · Answer

1. The glasses test is not accurate on children and very young people when not done AFTER dilation. You can look on Wikipedia and search post cycloplegic refraction for more detail.
2. I would see an ophthalmologist eye MD. Express your concerns to the MD and the techs and insist a post cycloplegic refraction be done.
3. No your child has "simple myopia" not high myopia. NOTE because the child has astigmatism it makes the true myopia less than the first number of the glasses RX. The "spherical equivalent" of the LE with the new RX is -3.25
4.No dilating will not damage the eyes. There is an extended discussion on this website by people that believe that dilating their pupils causes floaters in their eyes. This is totally false but no amount of explanation or reason will dissuade them. Dilation is often done for people having floaters or posterior vitreous detachment or myopic people. When floaters develop later on they incorrectly attribute it to the drops and not what's going on in their eyes. The relationship is co-incidental not causal.

JCH MD

Mohan_n · Answer

Thanks Doctor for your quick response and the link.

The glasses test was done before pupils dilation. After pupils dilation OD did only eye checks (using some light).

For my son's age, is he severely near sighted?

Please suggest should I go seek a second opinion for my son.

Also will dilating the pupils more than once within a week have any impact on my kids eyes.

Thanks for your responses.

JohnHaganMD · Answer

If the refraction was done without drops I would return to the eye MD and ascertain the refraction done "post-cycloplegic"  (after dilation)

JCH MD

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