What Is Myopia (Nearsightedness)?
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness or shortsightedness, is a common vision condition that causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects appear clearly. It occurs when the eyeball is slightly longer than normal or the cornea has too much curvature, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it.
What Causes Myopia?
There are several factors that contribute to myopia including:
- Genetics - if one or both parents are nearsighted, their children have an increased risk of developing myopia too.
- Excessive near work - spending a lot of time on close activities like reading, writing, computer use, etc. can encourage myopia development.
- Not enough outdoor time - sunlight helps stimulate the release of dopamine in the retina which may inhibit myopia progression in children.
- Eye growth - myopia usually develops in childhood/teen years when the eye is still growing. The eye may grow too long for the optical power of the cornea and lens.
Myopia Symptoms
The main symptom of myopia is blurred vision at a distance. Other signs and symptoms may include:
- Headaches and eye strain from eye overuse
- Squinting or preferential seating close to screens/blackboards
- Difficulty seeing road signs, TV, presentations, etc. from afar
- Fatigue when doing visual tasks
Myopia Diagnosis
Myopia is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They will examine your:
- Visual acuity - ability to read an eye chart from a distance.
- Refraction - determining any refractive errors like nearsightedness using phoropter lenses.
- Eye health - checking for eye diseases using slit lamp exam, ophthalmoscopy, etc.
Based on your symptoms, refractive error measurement and eye health evaluation, your eye doctor can determine if you have myopia and how severe it is.
Myopia Treatment and Management
There are several options to correct myopic vision and slow myopia progression including:
Eyeglasses
Wearing corrective lenses like eyeglasses or contacts improves distant vision by bending (refracting) light rays properly onto the retina. However, they do not address the underlying cause of myopia progression.
Contact Lenses
Soft contact lenses provide a convenient alternative to eyeglasses for myopia correction. Rigid gas permeable lenses may slow myopia progression slightly more than soft lenses.
Orthokeratology
Ortho-k uses specially designed rigid contact lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea and temporarily reduce myopia. However, effects are reversed once lens wear is stopped.
Atropine Eye Drops
Low dose atropine eye drops taken daily can slow the progression of myopia in children by an average of 60% over 2 years. However, it may cause temporary vision side effects.
Outdoor Time
Increasing time spent outdoors may help prevent or slow progression of nearsightedness in children. Aim for 2+ hours per day of sunlight exposure.
Vision Therapy
Specialized eye exercises and training may help reduce eyestrain and improve visual skills in some myopic patients.
Refractive Surgery
For severe cases, refractive surgeries like LASIK can reduce dependency on glasses/contacts by permanently changing the cornea's shape.
Myopia Prevention Tips
You can help prevent myopia onset and progression in your child by:
- Limiting close work and screen time.
- Encouraging more outdoor play time.
- Taking regular breaks during near tasks.
- Ensuring proper lighting when reading/writing.
- Getting comprehensive eye exams annually.
Outlook for Myopia Patients
With proper corrective lenses, myopia can be effectively managed. However, high myopia may increase risk of certain eye problems like cataracts, glaucoma and retinal damage later in life.
By starting treatment early and taking steps to slow progression, the long-term impacts of myopia can be minimized. Work with your eye doctor to monitor and control nearsightedness.
FAQs
What is myopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurry while close objects are seen clearly. It happens when the eyeball is slightly elongated or the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it.
What causes myopia?
Genetics, excessive near work, lack of outdoor time, and eye growth during childhood are major causes of myopia onset and progression.
At what age does myopia develop?
Myopia usually begins developing in school-age children between 6-12 years old. However, it can occur at any stage of life.
How is myopia corrected?
Myopia is commonly corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, orthokeratology, and refractive surgeries like LASIK. Atropine eye drops may also slow progression.
Can myopia be prevented?
Limiting close work, increasing outdoor time, taking vision breaks, and getting regular eye exams can help prevent or slow the progression of myopia in children.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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