Myopia

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common vision condition where you can see objects clearly up close, but things in the distance appear blurry.

This happens because the shape of your eye, or the shape of the clear front part of your eye called the cornea, causes light rays to focus in front of the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye) instead of directly on it. This incorrect focusing leads to blurred vision when looking at objects far away.

Imagine trying to project a picture onto a screen, but the image is focused slightly in front of the screen instead of directly on it. The result is a blurry image. That’s similar to what happens in myopia.

While the exact causes of myopia are still being researched, a combination of genetic and environmental factors is thought to play a role in its development.

If one or both parents have myopia, their children are more likely to develop the condition. This suggests that genes play a significant role in determining an individual’s susceptibility to myopia.

• Excessive Near Work: Spending a lot of time focusing on close-up objects, such as reading, using computers, or playing video games, may increase the risk of myopia. This is because the eye muscles constantly adjust for near vision, potentially influencing the eye’s shape over time.
• Lack of Outdoor Time: Studies have shown that spending time outdoors, particularly in natural light, may help protect against myopia. This is thought to be due to the exposure to brighter light levels and the need for the eyes to focus on distant objects in natural environments.

It’s important to remember that myopia is a complex condition, and its development likely involves a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. While more research is needed to fully understand the causes, understanding the potential risk factors can help you take steps to protect your vision and your children’s vision.

Myopia, or nearsightedness, often develops gradually, and symptoms may not always be obvious, especially in children. Being aware of the common signs can help you seek timely professional care and ensure your vision is at its best. Common symptoms include:

• Blurry distance vision: The most common symptom is difficulty seeing objects clearly at a distance. This might include trouble reading road signs, seeing the whiteboard at school, or recognising faces from afar.
• Squinting: People with myopia often squint to try to focus their vision, bringing objects into temporary clearer view.
• Headaches: Eye strain from constantly trying to focus can lead to headaches, particularly around the temples or forehead.
• Eye Fatigue: Eyes may feel tired or sore, especially after prolonged near work like reading or using computers.
• Difficulty with Night Vision: Myopia can make it challenging to see clearly at night, particularly when driving.

Early detection of myopia, especially in children, is crucial for effective management and potentially slowing its progression. Children may not always be aware of their vision problems or able to express them clearly, so regular eye exams are vital.

If you or your child experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s essential to schedule an eye exam. Early diagnosis and treatment can help ensure clear vision, improve quality of life, and potentially minimise the long-term effects of myopia.

Once myopia is diagnosed, several treatment options are available to correct your vision and, in the case of children, potentially slow down its progression.

Once myopia is diagnosed, several treatment options are available to correct your vision and, in the case of children, potentially slow down its progression.

• Eyeglasses: Eyeglasses are the most common and simplest way to correct myopia. They work by using concave lenses (thinner in the middle) to bend light rays entering the eye, focusing them correctly on the retina.
• Contact Lenses: Contact lenses offer a glasses-free alternative for clear vision. There are various types available:
  • Soft Contact Lenses: These are flexible and comfortable, offering a wide range of wearing schedules (daily, weekly, monthly).
  • Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses: RGP lenses are more durable and offer sharper vision, especially for people with astigmatism.
  • Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): These special lenses are worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea, providing clear vision during the day without glasses or daytime contact lenses.
• Refractive Surgery: For adults seeking a permanent vision correction solution, refractive surgery options include:
  • LASIK: Uses a laser to reshape the cornea.
  • PRK: Similar to LASIK but removes the outer layer of the cornea.
  • ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens): A lens is implanted inside the eye to correct vision.

Myopia management aims to slow down the progression of myopia, particularly in children. By controlling myopia progression, we can reduce the risk of developing high myopia, associated with an increased risk of eye health problems later in life. Myopia management methods include:

• Atropine Eye Drops: Low-dose atropine eye drops have been shown to effectively slow myopia progression in children.
• Multifocal Contact Lenses: Certain types of multifocal contact lenses can help manage myopia progression.
• Lifestyle Changes: Increasing outdoor time and limiting near-work activities can contribute to myopia control.

Your optometrist will work with you to determine the best treatment plan for your needs and vision goals.

Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed with myopia or have been living with it for years, there are simple steps you can take to manage the condition and maintain optimal eye health.

Regular eye exams are crucial for monitoring your myopia, ensuring your prescription is up-to-date, and detecting any potential eye health issues early. Your optometrist will recommend the appropriate frequency for your needs.

• Proper Lighting: Ensure adequate lighting when reading, working, or using digital devices.
• Screen Breaks: Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This helps reduce eye fatigue from prolonged near work.
• Blink Frequently: Consciously blink more often, especially when using screens, to keep your eyes lubricated.
• Adjust Screen Brightness: Reduce the brightness of your computer, tablet, and phone screens to a comfortable level.

• Balanced Diet: Consume a nutritious diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for eye health.
• Regular Exercise: Physical activity improves blood circulation, benefiting eye health.
• Manage Chronic Conditions: Diabetes and high blood pressure can affect your eyes. With your doctor’s guidance, you can manage these conditions effectively.
• Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays: Wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays outdoors to protect your eyes from sun damage.

The question of whether myopia worsens with age is a common one with a multifaceted answer. In children and teenagers, myopia typically progresses as their eyes are still growing and developing. This progression often slows down as they reach their late teens or early twenties, but the rate can vary. Early detection and myopia management strategies are essential during these formative years to potentially slow down the progression and reduce the risk of developing high myopia, which can have long-term eye health implications.

Once individuals reach adulthood, myopia usually stabilises because eye growth has generally ceased. Their prescriptions are likely to remain relatively stable. However, slight vision changes can occur in some adults due to factors like aging, health conditions, or lifestyle changes. It’s still important for adults to have regular eye exams to monitor any shifts in their vision and ensure their prescriptions are up-to-date. While rare, some adults may experience progressive myopia, a continuous worsening of nearsightedness, often associated with certain medical conditions or eye diseases.

Overall, while myopia often stabilises in adulthood, it’s crucial to prioritise regular eye exams at all ages. This allows for proper monitoring, appropriate treatment, and proactive maintenance of good eye health throughout life.

Whether or not myopia gets worse if you don’t wear glasses is a common misconception. Wearing glasses or contact lenses doesn’t directly influence the progression of myopia. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is primarily caused by the shape of your eye or the cornea, and these structural factors are not affected by whether you wear corrective lenses. Glasses and contacts simply help you see clearly by focusing light correctly on your retina.

However, not wearing glasses when you need them can lead to eye strain, headaches, and difficulty with daily tasks like reading or driving. This discomfort can impact your quality of life and make it challenging to participate fully in activities you enjoy. It’s important to consult with your optometrist to determine the appropriate prescription for your needs and wear your glasses or contact lenses as recommended for optimal vision and comfort. While wearing corrective lenses won’t worsen your myopia, addressing your vision needs with the proper prescription ensures clear and comfortable sight.

The idea of reversing myopia, or nearsightedness, is a hopeful one, but unfortunately, it’s not currently possible to completely reverse the condition. Myopia is primarily caused by the shape of your eye – either the eyeball being too long or the cornea being too curved. While glasses, contact lenses, and even refractive surgery like LASIK can correct your vision by refocusing light onto the retina, they don’t fundamentally alter the shape of your eye.

However, there’s promising research in the field of myopia management, particularly for children and teenagers. These techniques aim to slow down the progression of myopia, potentially preventing it from worsening over time. Options like specialised contact lenses, atropine eye drops, and increased outdoor time show potential in reducing the rate of myopia progression. While these methods don’t reverse existing myopia, they offer hope for managing the condition and reducing the risk of future complications associated with high myopia. If you’re concerned about myopia, consult with an optometrist to discuss the best options for your individual needs.