Please pay attention to your children’s hyperopia reserves this Children’s Day!

What is hyperopic reserve?

Hyperopia reserve refers to the refractive state of adolescent children at the corresponding age, which is the result of dynamic matching between axial length and parameters such as corneal and lens refractive power.

Generally speaking, the eyeballs of newborns are not fully developed and the eye axes are short. At this time, both eyes are in a hyperopic state with an average refractive power of +2.50⁓+3.00 D. This physiological hyperopia is called hyperopic reserve.

As children and adolescents’ eyes develop, their eye axes lengthen and their hyperopia gradually decreases. Generally, they develop into emmetropia (with a refractive power between -0.50 and +0.50 D) by the age of 15. This process is called emmetropization. [1]

If the eye axis continues to grow without being controlled after reaching emmetropia, it will develop into myopia.

Image source: Courseware from the National Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Myopia among Children and Adolescents Lecture Group of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China

Relationship between hyperopia reserve and myopia

Each age group has a corresponding amount of hyperopia reserve, and the hyperopia reserve of adolescents in different age groups is different.

Due to excessive and early use of the eyes at close range, some children and adolescents have used up their hyperopia reserves before the age of 6, and are very likely to develop myopia in primary school.

If the hyperopia reserve is used up too late, amblyopia and strabismus may occur, causing abnormal visual function of the eyes.

Therefore, the possibility of children and adolescents developing myopia can be determined by examining changes in their hyperopia reserve, and a myopia risk assessment can be made.

Image source: Courseware from the National Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Myopia among Children and Adolescents Lecture Group of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China

Pay attention to your child’s hyperopia reserve

Early screening to establish vision records

Eye screening at birth

First eye exam at age 3

Regular check-ups twice a year during childhood and adolescence

Determine indicators such as visual acuity, refractive status, axial length, eye position, anterior segment and fundus health examination, and parents' refractive status.

The earlier myopia occurs, the worse the myopia control effect! The more likely it is to develop high myopia!

Learn about myopia prevention and control knowledge

Spend more than 2 hours of outdoor activities every day

Reduce the time of using eyes at close range

Maintain a reasonable sitting posture and eye distance

Adjust for good lighting

Content source:

[1] Expert consensus on hyperopia reserve, axial length, corneal curvature reference range and genetic factors in Chinese school-age children (2022)

Medical knowledge is for reference only and is not used as a basis for diagnosis