Introduction To Myopia - What You Should Know About Nearsightedness

Myopia, or nearsightedness, affects around 40% of the population at some point in their lives.

While it can cause annoyances and make some things more difficult, nearsightedness is not a disease.

Most people with this condition have very healthy eyes.

This condition is easily correctable with glasses or contact lenses.

What is myopia?

Nearsightedness is a refractive error in the eye. It happens when the eye has an overabundance of optical power for the length of the eye from front to back. This causes the eye to project the light rays coming from distant objects at a point in the middle of the eye rather than on the retina. The brain perceives these images as being blurry.

Glasses or contact lenses correct this problem by refracting the light again so the image is projected on the retina where it belongs.

Causes

• Nearsightedness is caused when the eye is elongated or larger. It is similar to some people having larger hands than other people. It is thought to be hereditary. Children with two parents who are nearsighted have a 33% chance of developing the condition themselves.

• While doing close work can affect existing nearsightedness to a certain degree, it will not cause the condition in someone who does not have it.

• This condition can also be caused in middle age as the beginning symptom of cataracts forming.

• It can be a side effect of uncontrolled diabetes or a sign of keratoconus, a rare condition that causes the cornea of the eye to become shaped like a cone.

Side Effects Of Blurry Vision

The only true symptom of nearsightedness is seeing distant objects as blurry. There are other side effects of nearsightedness that occur, but they are not symptoms of the condition.

• headache
• eye fatigue
• burning eyes
• and a limited tolerance for reading.

Remember that just because a young child prefers to sit closer to the television does not necessarily mean they can't see it.

Some children just prefer to view things up close.

Possible Treatments

Treatment for myopia can be easy. Glasses or contact lenses are a simple way to fix the problem and they have proven very effective. Children should be examined every year for changes in their eyes, while adults can go for 2 or 3 years between exams unless they feel there have been changes.

However some people are opting for surgical correction through the use of LASIK or PRK.

LASIK makes a flap in the cornea and removes a small amount of tissue before reattaching the flap. This serves to reduce the length of the eye from front to back so the eye can focus normally.

PRK removes some of the tissue of the surface of the eye to correct the curvature of the cornea.

Both of these procedures are meant to reduce the optical power of the cornea to help the eye focus normally.

Like any surgery, be sure to research about it and any possible side effects that may arise before committing yourself to the procedure.

Myopia usually occurs in children between the ages of 8 and 12 if it is hereditary. There may be a period of rapid changes in the eyes as they grow, and then it stabilizes as they reach adulthood.

There is a new study that suggests children who spend more time outdoors will have less occurrence of this condition than those who spend more time watching television, using the computer or playing video games.

Read more about this topic on the following pages:

Existing Treatments Of Nearsightedness - How Effective Are They?

20 20 Vision And What It Means to You

Vision Insurance - How To Choose Your Vision Plan

Symptoms Of Nearsightedness And Preventing It From Getting Worse

Causes Of Nearsightedness - What Is Responsible For Myopic Eyes

Your Degree Of Nearsightedness

High Myopia Defined And Treatments Available

What Is Pathologic Myopia?

Acute Nearsightedness - The Causes, Symptoms And Available Treatments