Myopia is a common eye condition in which people are able to better see objects that are closer than far away. If you find yourself bringing that book closer and closer to be able to see more clearly, you probably have myopia, or nearsightedness.

Myopia is a refractory error in which the eyeball is too elongated or the cornea, which is the protective layer of the eye, is too curved. Consequently, the light that enters the eye doesn’t focus correctly, and vision is blurred.

Symptoms included blurred vision, squinting, eyestrain, headaches and eye fatigue. Children with myopia may have trouble viewing the blackboard or smart board at school.

Diagnosis and Treatment

An eye exam, or even a quick vision screening at your primary care doctor’s office, can diagnose myopia. Your doctor will have you read numbers and letters from what’s called the Snellen eye chart. An optometrist or ophthalmologist can further diagnose the problem and determine a lens prescription to correct it. A prescription for myopia will include a negative number. The higher the negative the number, the stronger the lenses are. A -3.00 is stronger than a -2.50, for example.

Beyond corrective lenses, which most people with myopia use at least for a time, there are eye surgeries that can correct myopia.

• Photorefractive keratectomy, also called PRK, uses a laser to reshape the middle layer of the cornea, which flattens the cornea’s curve and lets light rays focus closer to or on the retina.
• LASIK surgery also uses a laser to create a thin flap on the top layer of the cornea and then reshape the cornea.
• Implantable Collamer Lens, or ICL surgery, uses a microscopic incision to implant a lens onto the eye between the natural lens and the iris. It helps refract light for a clearer vision.

Prevention

Myopia is a hereditary condition that often starts in childhood. Typically, myopia gets worse into the teenage years and then stabilizes in adult years.

Researchers continue you to study myopia and look for ways to prevent it and slow its progression, as it is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society. Here are a few of the therapies that show promise:

• Topical medications like atropine drops that dilate the eyes. Some studies show that atropine drops may help slow the progression of myopia.
• Increased time outside may also slow the progression of myopia and help prevent it. Researchers believe exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays may change the molecular structure of the eye and help maintain its normal shape.
• Dual focus contact lenses may help slow the progression of myopia in children ages 8 to 12.
• Orthokeratology is a procedure in which patients with myopia wear rigid, gas permeable contact lenses for several hours a day until the curvature of the eye evens out. Patients then wear the lenses less frequently to maintain the shape of the eye.

Payne Glasses

Payne Glasses offers a wide range of affordable glasses for women, men and kids. We also specialize in blue light glasses, bifocal glasses and progressives.
Feel free to contact us anytime with questions!

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/nearsightedness-myopia

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nearsightedness/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375561