My husband and I both have myopia of over 7 diopters. If we have children, will it be inherited? What is the probability of it being hereditary? (Han, 25 years old, Ho Chi Minh City)
Reply:
Refractive errors include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The two main causes of refractive errors are genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors account for a relatively small percentage, and are more common in children whose parents have refractive errors. For nearsightedness, the likelihood of passing it on to children is about 10% if the parents have myopia of less than 4 diopters, while the likelihood of passing it on to children with myopia of 6 diopters or more is over 90%.
Other causes of refractive errors include environmental factors, specifically unhealthy lifestyle habits such as incorrect posture or looking too closely, which affect eye adjustment; reading in dimly lit conditions or in poorly lit study and living spaces, forcing children's eyes to over-adjust. Furthermore, excessive use of electronic devices (computers, tablets, phones) that emit blue light (a type of light similar to ultraviolet rays) can harm the eyes. In addition, children with refractive errors may also have a diet lacking essential nutrients such as vitamin A, omega-3, vitamin C, and calcium.
To identify refractive errors in children, parents should pay attention to signs such as children frequently squinting, tilting their heads or necks when looking; difficulty seeing clearly on the blackboard, writing incorrectly, or writing off-line; and impaired eye accommodation leading to headaches, eye pain, and watery eyes.
Untreated refractive errors can impair a child's vision and hinder their learning and daily life. Furthermore, refractive errors can lead to various complications such as amblyopia, strabismus, choroidal degeneration, retinal detachment, and even blindness. Therefore, as soon as parents notice any signs of refractive errors in their children, they should take them to specialized eye clinics for timely examination and treatment.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Bach Tuyet, Specialist in Internal Medicine
Ophthalmology Department, Interdisciplinary Department, Children's Hospital 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Source link
Comment (0)