Myopia
Myopia
What is myopia?
Myopia (near vision) is a refractive error. Refractive error occurs when the eye does not bend (refract) light properly. The light is not focused correctly so the images are not clear. In nearsightedness, near objects are seen clearly but distant objects are blurred. Myopia is a common condition, present in approximately 25% of North Americans. It is a disorder of the focus of the eye, it is not an eye disease.
Myopia in children
Myopia is hereditary. If one of the parents is myopic, it is possible that the children are too. Nearsightedness is usually discovered in children between the ages of 8 and 12. During adolescence, when body growth is accelerated, nearsightedness can worsen. Between the ages of 20 and 40, little change occurs. Myopia can also occur in adults.
High myopia
If myopia is mild, ophthalmologists know it as low myopia. They refer to severe myopia as high myopia. High myopia normally stabilizes between the ages of 20 and 30. High myopia can usually be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Sometimes refractive surgery can correct high myopia.
Nearsighted people are at higher risk of developing retinal detachment. Ask your ophthalmologist to explain the warning signs of retinal detachment. See your ophthalmologist regularly for retinal changes that could lead to retinal detachment. If the detachment is discovered early, it can be repaired with surgery.
People who have high myopia may also have a higher risk of developing glaucoma and cataracts.
Myopia symptoms
Some of the signs and symptoms of myopia include:
- Eye strain
- Headache
- Squeeze your eyes to see better
- Difficulty seeing objects in the distance, such as street signs or the blackboard in class.
Near Vision: Causes of Myopia
The tear film, cornea, and lens of the eye bend light so that it focuses on the retina. The retina receives the image formed by these light rays. It sends the image to the brain through the optic nerve, which is actually part of the brain.
Nearsightedness occurs when the eye is longer than normal or has an overly steep cornea. The result is that the light rays are focused in front of the retina and not on it. In this case, nearby objects are seen clearly, but distant objects are blurred.