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Nearsightedness or Myopia: What is it?
Symptoms You May Experience:
Examination: What Your Eye Doctor Will Look For:
What You Can Do:
When To Call Your M.D.:
Treatment:
Prognosis: Will I See Better?
Nearsightedness,
or myopia, is the ability to see clearly up closebut not at a distance
without glasses or contact lenses. The cause of nearsightedness
is unknown but it tends to run in families. It is the most common
type of vision problem in the United States, affecting more than 25% of
the population.
Nearsightedness usually begins in childhood or early adolescence and progresses until the late teens or early twenties, when it stabilizes. Acquired nearsightedness is much less common and can be caused by many eye diseases which are discussed elsewhere on this site.
Nearsightedness usually begins in childhood or early adolescence and progresses until the late teens or early twenties, when it stabilizes. Acquired nearsightedness is much less common and can be caused by many eye diseases which are discussed elsewhere on this site.
Your vision
is always blurred at a distance but clear when looking at things up
close. A nearsighted child who is not wearing glasses or contact
lenses may sit too close to the blackboard or television, squint
frequently, or be unaware of distant objects.
You will be
unable to read the eye chart at a distance during the exam. If
tests indicate that glasses are likely to correct the problem, your eye
doctor may then write a prescription for glasses or contact lenses.
There is no
proven way to prevent nearsightedness. You should simply be aware
of its symptoms so that if nearsightedness develops, you can be
examined by an eye doctor.
Nearsightedness
usually develops in children, so parents, teachers, etc. should be
alert to the symptoms. A child who has difficulty seeing distant
objects should see an eye doctor promptly to prevent the development of
a lazy eye (amblyopia) and to exclude other causes of blurred vision.
Properly
prescribed glasses and contact lenses can correct
nearsightedness. Some people may benefit from refractive surgery
(laser eye surgery). Annual eye exams are recommended, especially
for those with high myopia, because nearsighted people can develop
retinal tears and detatchments which they may not notice.
Most nearsightedness can be fully corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery!
Anatomically
there are two types of nearsightedness. In axial myopia the
eyeball is elongated rather than spherical. Therefore, light rays
entering the eye focus in front of the retina instead of right on
it. In refractive myopia the refractive power of the cornea or
lens is too strong, causing the same effect.
Occasionally a person may be so nearsighted that he or she is at risk for developing other eye diseases. This condition is called high myopia and is defined as a refractive error of more than -6.00 to -8.00 diopters. A high myope may have a higher risk of retinal detachment, choroidal neovascularization, or glaucoma.
Occasionally a person may be so nearsighted that he or she is at risk for developing other eye diseases. This condition is called high myopia and is defined as a refractive error of more than -6.00 to -8.00 diopters. A high myope may have a higher risk of retinal detachment, choroidal neovascularization, or glaucoma.
