Pseudomyopia

[WhatIsPink]

Just wondered if anyone ever had experience of it. 3 months ago, my DS went for an eye test and it was all fine, then recently my DH saw him squint and I did some basic eye testing at home, just holding a book with letters far away and asked him to read. He was very poor. So I went to a different optician to get another test and I was told he’s -1 and -1.25. I was very sad and he’s an active boy. After I got home I did a lot of research and understood it’s possible it could be pseudomyopia. I went back to the optician and ask for a dilation test, the optometrist was adamant it’s absolutely unnecessary first but then I enquired the price for having it done privately with them (same optician) just for my piece of mind. They initially said the optometrist will call me back to discuss but then the optometrist didn’t but reception said it’s fine they will do it on nhs. I don’t know what changed their mind.

anyway, I just wondered if anyone had experience of being told their kid’s got myopia and then found it’s psedomyopia. How was it for you? How did you find it? Did the optometrist say anything or was there any signs suggesting that?

How old is he? Does he have the other signs and symptoms? Has he been doing a lot of close work (like studying for exams) to cause eye strain?

What made you do a lot of research into alternatives?

there is no need to feel sad - billions of people are short-sighted and wear glasses / contact lenses, and neither are a barrier to enjoying being active and playing sport.

He’s 6 and almost 7. What prompted me is the rapid deterioration from fine to -1 within 3 months. He does do some homework and I would say the posture hasn’t been the best but equally, he is an active boy, so plenty of play too.
if he’s myopia then he is, but the rate of deterioration concerns me and therefore made me question the accuracy.
have you had experience with someone who is pseudomyopia?

I wouldn't put drops in a child unnecessarily either - there needs to be a clinical need and all drugs have potential side effects.
All children to a certain degree are pseudomyopic, due to their cillary muscle tonus, but if they were over accommodating to that degree there would be other clinical signs.
To limit myopia development ensure he has an up to date pair of glasses - preferably myopia management ones.
He needs to be spending at least 50 minutes outside every day
Hold book and devices at least at 33cm and ensure regular breaks from screens when he does need to use them.