The Brooker girls on are on a mission! A Vision Mission with the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) to raise awareness for myopia, also known as nearsightedness.
As many of you noticed, Channing started wearing glasses a few weeks ago. I was really frustrated because we’ve known she had trouble seeing for a while. She would squint while watching TV, and have to lean in really close to her books to read or write. We took her to several eye doctors over the last year and a half, and she even had an eye exam at school. All of the doctors said she was fine and didn’t need glasses. They said her eyes were still developing and she just needed time. But during her wellness visit with her primary care doctor, she failed her vision test. Our amazing doctor recommended she go again and get an eye exam. Lo and behold, she was finally diagnosed correctly.
She has an astigmatism and myopia. Hopefully we caught it in time! Our doctor said that vision in most kids is fully developed by the time they are 7. Chan is 6 ½ so it’s imperative that we course correct now or her eyes could permanently think the bad vision is the norm. Myopia also increases the risk of serious eye diseases, which made it all the more important for me to ask about new treatments that can slow down or even stop myopia from getting worse.
While exploring ways to help her vision, we discovered GMAC. Their goal is to help parents learn more about myopia and treatments for myopia in a meaningful way. So they challenged us to go on a Vision Mission to have fun while on our way to the eye doctor. Chan loves treasure maps so I thought it would be fun to draw a map with her of places we could go to read big letters, signs and get sweet snacks.
My hope is that she would start to feel more comfortable talking to me about any challenges she has with her vision. Myopia is a very common condition in which people can see close objects clearly, but objects farther away appear blurred. People with myopia can have difficulty clearly seeing a movie or TV screen, a whiteboard in school or
while driving.
Here are some ways myopia can affect your kids:
● We try to limit the amount of time Chan is in front of a screen. But with tablets or TVs or close by all the time, it’s bound to affect her vision. Talking to your doctor about computer glasses and taking a break from screens can make a big difference.
● Chan recently started playing soccer and I’ve been worried about how she can play with her glasses. The experts say because myopia is progressive and treatable, the earlier it’s detected, the earlier you can set your kids up for success on and off the field.
● How many times have you asked your little one to tell you what’s making them feel bad? Where does it hurt? Kids aren’t always able to articulate what’s bothering them and as parents we often miss signs of problems. Going on a Vision Mission that ends at the eye doctor’s office is a fun way to open up the lines of communication with your child and get them the treatment they need.
● Add a Vision Mission trip to the eye doctor to your annual list of check-ups. Vision health is just as important as going to the pediatrician or the dentist. Going early can help diagnose myopia and help kids perform their best.
I want to challenge you to go on a Vision Mission with your kids and take them to the eye doctor. The experts with GMAC say there are new treatments available beyond glasses and contacts and catching it early may help slow the progression of myopia and set your kids up for success.
*Disclaimer: I was compensated or given free product in exchange for my honest experience with this company. For more information, visit my disclaimers page.
