What is myopia disease?

Recognizing Myopia: Origins, Signs, and Curative Measures

What is myopia disease? I’m going to talk about a common eye condition called myopia. This is when people have trouble seeing things clearly from a distance. Many children and teenagers experience this, and it gradually gets worse.

They can see things up close just fine, so they can do homework at home easily. But in class, they can’t read the board clearly and their performance may suffer.

When these kids come to us, we check their eyes and often prescribe glasses for distance vision, which we call myopia. Myopia happens mostly because the eyeball is longer than normal.

Just like some people are tall and some are short, some have longer eyes, leading to myopia. This condition can be genetic, meaning it runs in families, or it can be influenced by environmental factors.

Children spend time on screens

Children who spend a lot of time on screens like laptops, TVs, and mobile phones and play outside less are more likely to develop myopia. Encouraging your children to play outside more can help.

The most basic treatment for myopia is wearing glasses. Glasses help children see clearly and lead a normal life. For older children, around 12–13 years old, who find it hard to handle glasses, contact lenses are an option. Once children turn 18, there are surgical options like LASIK, surface ablation, or phakic IOL to permanently correct their vision.

The progression of myopia

Researchers are working on ways to slow the progression of myopia. One effective method is using diluted eye drops under an eye specialist’s advice, which can slow the increase in lens power if used until around age 13.

Another option is ortho-k lenses, worn at night to improve vision during the day without glasses. A new development is myopia progression glasses, designed to manage focal points and slow down the increase in lens power.

Conclusion

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common condition that affects many children and teenagers, making it difficult to see things clearly from a distance. It is primarily caused by the elongation of the eyeball, which can be influenced by genetic and environmental factors.

The most basic treatment is wearing glasses, which helps improve distance vision. For older children, contact lenses are an alternative, and for adults, surgical options are available to correct the condition permanently.

To slow the progression of myopia, reducing screen time and encouraging outdoor activities are crucial. Additionally, special eye drops and myopia progression glasses are effective methods.

FAQs about Myopia

Q1: What is myopia? A: Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is an eye condition where distant objects appear blurry while close objects can be seen clearly.

Q2: What causes myopia? A: Myopia is primarily caused by the elongation of the eyeball. It can be influenced by genetic factors (running in families) and environmental factors (such as excessive screen time and reduced outdoor activities).

Q3: How can I tell if my child has myopia? A: If your child has trouble seeing the board in class but can read books up close easily, squints frequently, or complains of headaches, they may have myopia. An eye exam can confirm this.

Q4: How is myopia treated? A: The most common treatment is wearing glasses or contact lenses. For older children and adults, surgical options like LASIK can permanently correct myopia.

Q5: Can myopia be prevented? A: While myopia cannot be entirely prevented, its progression can be slowed down by encouraging outdoor play, reducing screen time, and using special eye drops or myopia progression glasses.

Q6: What are the surgical options for myopia? A: Surgical options include LASIK, surface ablation, and phakic IOL. These procedures reshape the cornea or implant a lens to correct vision.

Q7: Are there non-surgical ways to manage myopia? A: Yes, non-surgical options include wearing glasses or contact lenses, using ortho-k lenses at night, and special eye drops to slow down the progression of myopia in children.

Q8: Is myopia hereditary? A: Yes, myopia can be hereditary. If parents or other family members have myopia, there is a higher chance that children may develop it too.