Myopia, commonly referred to as short-sightedness or nearsightedness, is an eye condition that affects an individual ability to focus on objects that are far from them. This condition usually occurs when the distance from the front to the back of the eyes grows too long or when the optical power of the lens becomes too high. The disparity between the eye and its optical machinery causes the light rays to focus in the front of the retina making it difficult for you to view distant objects clearly. Click https://plano.co/eye-health/myopia-nearsightedness-shortsightedness/ for more information about myopia. In This article, we tell you more about myopia, including its causes, and treatment options available.
What causes myopia?
As discussed earlier, myopia is caused when the eyeball is too long or the cornea (the protective outer layer of the eye) is too curved, thus preventing light that enters the eyes from focusing correctly. If you suffer from This condition, images will focus in front of your retina as opposed to focusing directly on the retina, causing blurred vision. Ophthalmologists call This “refractive error”
At what age does this condition develop?
There is no specific age when this serious eye condition develops. It can develop at any age. However, according to experts, myopia is likely to develop between the ages of 8 and 14 years.
A study conducted in Singapore showed that children aged between 8-14 years are the most affected by this deadly eye condition. This is a huge concern because when myopia develops at such a tender age, then it is likely to affect them, even more, when they become adults. This is because myopia tends to worsen with time.
When you develop myopia at a younger age, then you are at greater risk of developing high myopia, a more severe form of myopia. High myopia increases your risk of developing sight-threatening conditions such as retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. This is because an individual with high myopia has a longer eyeball compared to those suffering from moderate and low myopia.
Causes of myopia
According to eye experts, myopia may be caused by a variety of things including the environment, lifestyle choices, and genetic factors (family history).
Signs and symptoms of myopia
- Experiencing headache frequently
- Having trouble reading things, especially on the whiteboard
- Blurry vision when looking at distant objects
- Holding books too close to the eyes or sitting too close to the computer or television
- Squinting when looking at distant objects
- Blinking and rubbing your eyes excessively
How is myopia treated?
This eye condition has several treatment options. The treatment that your doctor will apply mainly depends on the severity of the condition. Below are the treatment options for myopia.
- Refractory surgery
This technique involves the use of lasers to reshape your cornea so that the coming right rays are focused inside the retina as opposed to in front of the retina. Common types of refractive surgeries include photorefractive keratectomy and Laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis.
- Use of spectacles and contact lenses
This is the most common technique used to correct myopia. Contact lenses are usually placed directly on the front surface of the eye while spectacles are worn. They contain concave lenses that help to focus light entering your eyes to the retina.
