HOMEDetails

Details

What is myopia?

Myopia, or short sightedness, develops when the eyeball is unusually lengthened during development, affecting focus at short distances. It is most commonly diagnosed at a young age, when children report that distant objects appear blurry, or having to sit nearer and squint to see the whiteboard clearly in class. Unsurprisingly, myopia affects almost half of children under 12 years old in Singapore.

Who is at risk and what are the causes?

There are two main risk factors for developing myopia. It can be hereditary or due to environmental factors such as:

Excessive computer and phone usage

Prolonged reading and writing

Arts and crafts

Other near work

Lack of outdoor activities

Children aged 5-15 are at the highest risk of developing myopia.

How to manage myopia?

Myopia can be controlled in most patients with optical aids such as spectacles and contact lenses. Other therapies such as prescription eye drops and pinhole glasses have also been reported to show positive results in children with myopia. Adults with severe myopia may consider surgery to correct their eyesight if necessary. Patients with myopia are recommended to go for regular eye check-ups. If left untreated, myopia can progress to more serious conditions such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts.

Can myopia be prevented?

While hereditary factors play an important role in the development of myopia, the risk can be greatly reduced with good lifestyle habits such as:

Spending at least 2 hours a day outdoors in the sun

Reduce screen time, or spend less time on continuous near work, taking intermittent breaks to relax the eyes

Ensure that indoor spaces are well lit

Avoid looking directly at the sun

Adopt a healthy and balanced diet, and increase intake of foods rich in omega-3 (e.g. tuna and salmon)

Acupressure massage

EM-03 鱼腰 Yu Yao: At the midpoint of the eyebrow, directly above the pupil

BL-02 攒竹 Cuan Zu: At the inner end of the eyebrow

GB-01 瞳子髎 Tong Zi Liao: 0.5-1cm away from the outer canthus of the eye

ST-01 承泣 Cheng Qi: Directly below pupil, between the eyeball and eye socket

BL-01 精明 Jing Ming: At the depression slightly above the inner canthus of the eye

Using the knuckles of your index finger, massage lightly above and below the eyes in an outwards direction 30 times. Repeat twice daily.

Herbal soups and teas

Goji Berries and Pork Liver Porridge

Ingredients: 120g pork liver, 15g goji berries, 1 packet spinach, 60g rice

Method: Season pork liver with ginger, starch, cooking wine, pepper and salt. Stir fry (optional) before combining with goji berries, spinach, rice, and water and cook till soft.

Chrysanthemum Tea with Goji Berries

Ingredients: 3-4 dried chrysanthemum flowers, 1 teaspoon goji berries, 1 teaspoon sugar or honey

Method: Steep chrysanthemum flowers and goji berries with hot water for 5 minutes. Add sugar or honey to taste and serve warm.

With proper management and treatment, most patients’ myopic conditions stabilise in their twenties. Regular eye check-ups are recommended for early detection of possible complications.

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