Myopia (Nearsightedness)
What is Myopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common vision condition where you have difficulty seeing distant objects or persons, while vision of nearby objects or persons is unaffected . Myopia can start from an early age and generally stabilises between the ages of 20 and 40.
What Causes Myopia?
Our eyes are highly complex structures that enable us to see our surroundings. To focus on an image, we rely on the eye’s frontal layers, the cornea and lens, which allow light to pass through and refract (bend) it. The refracting of light directs it to the retina, located at the back of the eye, which converts the light into signals that are sent to the brain, perceiving these signals as images.
The exact cause of myopia is still relatively unknown, but it does cause changes to the shape of your eye or the cornea, preventing light from refracting onto your retina. In most cases, light falls short of reaching the retina, resulting in blurry vision. Myopia is known to be a hereditary condition, so if your parents have myopia, you will likely inherit the condition.
Risk factors of myopia include:
● Age
● Prolonged screen time
● Prolonged close-up activities, such as reading
● Minimal outdoor time
● Health conditions
Symptoms of Myopia
Apart from blurry vision, other symptoms of myopia include:
● Eyestrain
● Tiredness when driving or looking into the distance
● Squinting to see distant objects
● Frequent headaches
Children may not be aware that they have blurry vision, so regular eye screenings can help detect and treat myopia early. If you notice your child squinting frequently, rubbing their eyes often, or needing to move closer to see something, consider visiting our clinic for a comprehensive eye exam
Complications of Myopia
If left untreated, myopia can increase your risk of a detached retina, a serious medical condition that is considered a medical emergency. A detached retina occurs when the tissue lining where the retina is located gradually separates from the eye wall, which can cause blindness. Severe myopia cases may also put you at higher risk of cataracts and glaucoma, among other eye conditions. It helps to speak to your optometrist for further advice on managing your myopia.
Diagnosing Myopia
A standard eye exam can provide a thorough diagnosis for myopia. It focuses on determining how the eyes focus light and what power is ideal for correcting your myopia. Your optometrist will ask you questions relating to your eye health to gain a better understanding of your eye care needs.
Part of the diagnosis involves a visual acuity test that determines how sharp your vision is at a distance. You will need to cover one eye and then read letters and numbers of different sizes displayed on an eye chart. From there, they will use an instrument called a phoropter that places several lenses in front of your eyes to determine the appropriate prescription to treat your myopia. Your optometrist may also conduct additional diagnostic tests, including checking your peripheral (side) vision to look for signs of glaucoma.
If you have a child, regular check-ups can help you keep up with their changing vision. Ideally, their first eye exam should start before the age of one. Subsequent screenings can be conducted every two years to monitor for early signs of myopia and facilitate proper management.
Visual Acuity Test
A standard eye exam by having the person read the letters on a chart to measure how clearly a person sees. It helps determine the sharpness or clarity of an individual’s vision.
Our optometrist will use several methods to bend or change the direction of light coming from a distant object, to focus accurately on the retina by introducing different lenses before your eyes. When this is achieved, vision will be clearest. This results in the precise refraction test prescription for your spectacles or contact lenses.
This assessment is to simply evaluate how the two eyes team together in terms of accommodation and convergence, and the ability of the ocular muscles to fuse objects with ease and to rule out any stress on the system.
During a comprehensive eye screening, our optometrist will use optical equipment and procedures to diagnose your eye health and look for early signs of an eye condition, allowing them to treat it immediately and resolve complications before they worsen.
Treatment of Myopia
Eyeglasses & Contact Lenses
Eyeglasses divert light onto the retina to correct myopia. In most cases, you only need to wear these to help you perform some activities, such as reading or driving. However, others with more severe myopia may need to wear them at all times. These can also provide valuable myopia management over the long term, and can even help correct other refractive errors such as astigmatism. Single-lens eyeglasses typically offer optimal results, but some people may need bifocal or multifocal lenses to account for different vision levels.
Contact lenses operate similarly as eyeglasses , but are small, disc-shaped objects placed directly on the cornea. Much like eyeglasses, they also come in various types suited to different levels of myopia. Because they are worn in your eyes, you can lead an active lifestyle without worrying about damaging your lenses. However, you do need to take care of your contact lenses: some activities can cause the lenses to fall out, making them difficult to find. You also need to clean them frequently, as failing to do so may put you at risk of eye infections.
Orthokeratology
Also known as ortho-K, this treatment method uses specially designed rigid contact lenses that you wear overnight, which reshape the cornea while you sleep. The lenses apply gentle pressure to your eye, reshaping the cornea and ensuring that light is refracted onto your retina. As you only need to wear them for specific periods, it can be a safer alternative than contact lenses for those who play sports regularly, as they do not need to wear these ortho-K lenses during activities. The benefits of ortho-K are temporary and require regular wear, but it is still effective in treating myopia.
Atropine Eye Drops
These eye drops are prescribed to help manage myopia by dilating the pupil and pausing the eye’s focusing mechanism. It is generally prescribed in low concentrations (typically between 0.01% and 0.05%) and used once a day at night.
Start Your Myopia Management Journey with Philip D. Izaac
Early eye screenings are crucial for detecting myopia progression in young children and adults, providing necessary vision correction and reducing the risk of future complications. Contact us today to find out more about our eye care treatments.