Myopia is a very common eye condition that causes objects in the distance to appear blurry while objects that are close up are clear and sharp.
Myopia can range from mild to severe—with mild cases requiring no treatment, while severe cases can significantly affect vision.
The condition usually begins during puberty and gradually progresses as the eye grows to its full size. However, myopia can also occur in children.
Some signs that your child may have myopia include:
Sitting at the front of the class because they can’t read the writing on the board.
Sitting too close to the TV.
Constantly complaining of headaches or eye strain.
Constantly rubbing their eyes.
Get an eye exam
If you think you or your child is nearsighted based on the symptoms listed above, be sure to see an optometrist.
You should usually have an eye exam every two years; however, if you feel that your vision is impaired, see an ophthalmologist immediately.
An eye exam will determine whether you have farsightedness or nearsightedness, and your ophthalmologist will prescribe glasses or contact lenses to improve your vision.
Causes of myopia
Myopia usually occurs when the diameter of the eyeball is too large in the horizontal axis.
This means that light is not properly focused on the light-sensitive tissue of the eye (the retina) and the image is formed on a point in front of the retina, which causes objects to appear blurry at a distance.
It is not known exactly what causes myopia, but it often runs in families, and people have a history of focusing on close objects, such as books or computers, for long periods of time during childhood.
Encourage your child to spend more time outdoors (away from the computer). This can help prevent myopia in children.
Myopia Treatment
There are several ways to treat myopia, but the main treatments are:
Corrective lenses - glasses or contact lenses that help you see distant objects better.
Laser eye surgery to reshape the eye - This treatment is not done for children because the eye is not fully developed.
Artificial lens implantation - In this procedure, an artificial lens is surgically placed inside the eye to help you see distant objects clearly.
Other Related Eye Conditions
Some adults with severe nearsightedness, or some children whose nearsightedness is untreated, may develop other eye conditions, including:
Strabismus - a common childhood condition in which the two eyes point in different directions.
Lazy eye - a childhood condition in which the vision in one eye does not develop properly.
Glaucoma - increased pressure inside the eye
Cataract - a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy.
Retinal detachment - a condition in which the retina separates from the blood vessels that supply it with oxygen and nutrients.