HOW DO WE CONTROL MYOPIA?

By: HJArago, Batangas City, 11/17/2025

The First Question We Are Always Asked Is: "Is There Cure For My Child's Myopia?" 

Unfortunately, Myopia has no permanent cure.

It can however, be effectively managed and corrected. But before I talk about myopia management and correction, let me challenge you with the necessary changes that needs to be done.

PREVENTION AND CHANGES IN THE FILIPINO LIFESTYLE

As the Indian proverb goes: "It takes the whole village to raise a child.", paraphrased of course, the correction  and management of your child's myopia will require the full cooperation of everyone close to your family. This will be from your home, to your child's school, to your extended families. 

Let's start with your child's school. 

Meet with your child's classroom adviser and collaborate with her on how she and the school can help with your child's myopia. Perhaps you can ask her to have your child seated in the first row of the classroom, or ask the teacher to have your child seated where there is ample natural light, or to spend more time outdoors, or implement other eye-friendly classroom environment changes. You can ask the school to have the eyes of their students checked. There are many ways to engage the school in myopia awareness.

Then to your extended families.

Enjoin your nuclear families and your child's yaya of the necessary boundaries you're implementing to control and manage the myopia of your child. Explain to them that these activities and limitations are necessary for the future of your child.

Let's now go inside your home.

Some changes in your child's lifestyle and home boundaries may reduce myopia and its severity.

1. Encourage your child to play outdoors under the sun minimum of 2 hours daily

Let them play outside. Allow them to run and jump for at least two hours a day under the sun. Ideally, every morning and afternoon. The longer the hours at play outside, the better. Studies have shown that children who play at least 2 hours each day outside have lower myopia rates. The Filipino family tend to be overly protective of their children. Filipino parents would rather have their children inside the house or at the garage. This maybe detrimental to the child’s developing eyes and brain. At this age, children need to develop their near, intermediate, distance, depth, color, center, peripheral and dynamic vision. This does not include their need for psycho-social as well as emotional and physical development. Playing outside will meet these needs.

(Source: Family Vision Care)

2. Limit Screen Time to maximum 2 hours daily

Generally, Pinoy parents have their children nannied by their tablets and cellphones. Although this is convenient for the parent, this poses lasting risks for your child. I know some parents who bought their two year-old child his very won tablet.

"Eh 'di wow!"

The baby and the yaya would play the tablet together. "Pampatalino at pampa-bait raw."

"Eh 'di wow ulit!"

Statistics point to numerous visual, behavioral, social, physical and emotional effects on children because of this. Although it is true that digital devices are here to stay, setting up boundaries on their device use is a good start in controlling the increase of myopia on children.

Eye health professionals suggest maximum of two hours each day for their device use. This must be enforced by the parents consistently.

For the adults, apply the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

(Source: Family Vision Care)

3. Provide Proper Lighting and Ergonomics of your child’s studying area.

Avoid reading in dim lighting, bad posture, bad air-conditioning positioning and lighting locations.

4. Do not self diagnose. Refrain from purchasing On-line Prescription Eyeglasses, Questionable Contact lenses and Eyedrops for your child and your family.

Pinoys, to save on their daily costs, go online to purchase unproven online products. Pinoys also like to go online and self-diagnose. We tend to self-diagnose and seek the internet for help for our eye problems. However, these poses greater risk in increasing the rate of myopia of your family along with other long lasting eye problems that will come with it.

Many doctors are reporting of complications because of these Filipino practice. Seeing the doctor is still the most economical and the most efficient way in addressing your family's eye care.

(Source: Family Vision Care)

5. Schedule Regular Eye Checkups at Family Vision Care

Make sure that your child and the rest of your family get their eyes examined at least once a year, even if no symptoms are present and even if their errors of refraction have been corrected. Have your eyes regularly checked by either an optometrist and an ophthalmologist.

Family Vision Care has a variety of options that will correct Myopia from Zeiss lenses to Myopia Control Lenses to contact lenses, drops, Orthokeratology lenses and much more.

Your Family Vision Care is committed to helping the Filipino family achieve better vision one family at a time.

Only you have the power to improve your family’s eye health.

Book for your doctor’s appointment online at Family Vision Care Philippines at their Google, Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok accounts at @familyvisioncareph.

There is hope.

Visit Family Vision Care today.