Through a Child's Eyes
National News
by
Monica Dean
last edited on
Friday, March 05, 2010
Wearing bifocals to improve vision may not be just for adults. A new study suggests bifocals may be the best choice for children with worsening myopia.
Eleven-year-old Eugenia Tzeng has been diagnosed with progressive myopia.
"Sometimes it gets blurry and you get dizzy," she says.
Her near vision is clear but distance vision is blurry. And for a while things were getting worse. Optometrist Stephen Huang prescribed bifocals three years ago.
"With a family history of progressive myopia and mom wanted to pursue other options, I think this is a good option," says Dr. Huang. Since then Eugenia's eyes appear to have stabilized.
"It's more clearer and I really don't get dizzy as often," said Eugenia.
"I was so happy because Eugenia started to wear her glasses since 1st grade. I was so worried about her," says mother Maggie Tzeng.
A new study suggests using bifocals for kids like Eugenia may be better than standard lenses. Over two years, researchers studied 135 Chinese-Canadian children whose myopia had worsened over the previous year. Some wore single-vision lenses others were prescribed bifocals. In the end, the progression of myopia was slower among the children who wore bifocals.
Optometrist Denis Iwamoto says the study is encouraging, providing another option that may help young patients.
"I think we have to give children every possible chance to succeed in school and in life. And if we don't take care of their needs early enough they may suffer later on in school," said Iamoto.
As for Eugenia and her parents, seeing her eyes stabilize is a relief.
"Her vision has stayed all the same. I can not be more happy for that," adds mother Maggie.
The study on bifocals for children was published in the "Archives of Ophthalmology." Researchers still don't know if the effects of bifocals on children diagnosed with myopia will be lasting.