{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1872342,
        "msgid": "the-importance-of-early-myopia-detection-in-children-under-seven-1784631084",
        "date": "2026-07-21 17:07:00",
        "title": "The Importance of Early Myopia Detection in Children Under Seven",
        "author": "Putri Rosmalia",
        "source": "MEDIA_INDONESIA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "An Indonesian paediatric ophthalmologist has stressed the critical need for early detection of myopia in children under seven to prevent serious long-term eye complications. The primary goal of modern treatment is no longer just correcting vision with glasses but controlling the progression of eyeball elongation before adulthood. Parents are urged to be vigilant for behavioural signs of vision problems, as early intervention offers the best chance to slow myopia's advance.",
        "content": "<p>Paediatric ophthalmologist Dr.\u00a0Indah Saraswati has emphasised the\nimportance of early detection of myopia, or short-sightedness,\nespecially in children under the age of seven. This step is crucial for\nmonitoring the long-term development of a child\u2019s eye health. \u201cIf before\nthe age of seven they already have a minus prescription, even a small\none, we must be alert, because their journey is still long,\u201d Dr.\u00a0Indah\nsaid at the Healthy Vision Day event organised by EssilorLuxottica\nIndonesia in Jakarta on Tuesday (21\/7\/2026). She explained that the main\ntarget of medical treatment is to slow or stop the elongation of the\neyeball before the child reaches 18 years of age. Myopia treatment is no\nlonger just about providing glasses so the child can see clearly, but\nalso focuses on controlling the progression of the minus prescription.\nNaturally, the human eyeball will continue to elongate until around the\nage of 18. However, this process can occur more rapidly in children with\ncertain risk factors, such as a parental history of wearing glasses or\nhabits of viewing near-distance objects for long durations. Uncontrolled\neyeball elongation will increase the degree of myopia. The higher the\ndegree of the minus prescription, the greater the risk of serious\ncomplications in the future. \u201cIf the eyeball gets longer, the optic\nnerve will become thinner, and retinal tears can occur, which in certain\nconditions can cause vision loss,\u201d said Dr.\u00a0Indah. Besides retinal\ntears, other lurking complications include thinning of the retina\n(maculopathy), glaucoma, and cataracts at a younger age. Given that\nchildren often do not realise or complain about the vision problems they\nexperience, Dr.\u00a0Indah urged parents to be more sensitive to their\nchild\u2019s behaviour. Some signs to watch out for include frequently\nsquinting, sitting too close to the television, or holding books very\nclose to the eyes. If parents find these signs, it is recommended to\nimmediately have a professional eye examination. According to Dr.\u00a0Indah,\nearly detection provides a greater opportunity to slow the rate of\nmyopia until the child\u2019s growth period ends.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-importance-of-early-myopia-detection-in-children-under-seven-1784631084",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}