Myopia: A Brief Overview

Normal eyes can see near and far objects with the same visual acuity. However, myopic eyes are only able to focus on nearby objects and not the distant ones. It is commonly seen that nearsighted people often face trouble viewing traffic lights or specific road signs, even if it is a few feet away. The saddest part is - when such a condition is left untreated for long, it gives rise to potential complications like glaucoma, cataracts and more. Therefore, it is crucial to find out the causes and arrange for a timely diagnosis under the supervision of certified ophthalmologists to manage myopia efficiently!

How common is myopia?

Recent statistics show that more than 40% of U.S. people suffer from this condition, with most of them being youngsters. Do you know why? With more and more school-goers and college teens spending time on their phones' screens, the risk of myopia has spiked gradually. Even if it may sound unfortunate, one of every four children has a certain degree of nearsightedness!

Different types of myopic conditions

Eye specialists broadly categorize the condition into simple and pathologic myopia (or degenerative myopia).

• Simple myopia: People affected by this generally use contact lenses or thick spectacles to see clearly. Commonly, the eyes are not harmed much, and the blurriness can be well managed if detected at a primary stage.
• Pathologic myopia: Corrective eyewear does not provide much relief and may result in degenerative changes within your eyes, which progress over time.  

Signs and symptoms of myopia

In normal vision, light rays focus on the retinal layer. However, focus appears in front of the retina in myopia, resulting in blurred eyesight. Here's a list of common signs that nearsighted people experience.

• Nearby objects appear clearer than faraway things
• Mild to severe pain in the eyes
• Persistent headaches
• Straining of eyes
• Squinting
• Difficulty in driving and playing sports
• Inability to focus on objects located a few feet away.

Some additional symptoms of myopia to look out for are:  

• Reduced academic performance
• Poor concentration
• The tendency to hold books close to the face

Myopia symptoms are usually mild and can be corrected with eyeglasses. However, if the condition becomes severe, refractive surgery is needed.  

Myopia: Possible Causes Explained

The actual reason for myopia is not yet clear. However, many ophthalmologists believe it to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Chances are high that if at least one of the parents is myopic, the child will inherit the same. Generally, the onset of myopia occurs during childhood, which is aggravated due to the adoption of poor lifestyle habits such as studying in dim light and scrolling smartphones most of the day, to name a few! However, the condition is treatable and may resolve at the end of the teenage years. Since light rays cannot focus correctly and produce the image on the retinal layer, vision appears blurry, as if a light has been misdirected. Worry not and arrange for an eye checkup to prevent the worsening of symptoms and obtain healthy vision.

Risk factors for myopia

One of the significant risk criteria for myopia is increasing age. However, the list does not end here, and you must consult an ophthalmologist if you experience any of the following factors.

• Family history
• Spending a lot of time viewing mobile and laptop screens
• Reading in a less-lighted room
• Not having a nutritious diet 
• Staying indoors most of the time and doing less physical activity
• Ethnicity issues - specific populations are more prone towards developing myopia than other groups   

Possible complications for a prolonged untreated myopia

Simple myopia cases are easy to manage with corrective glasses and lenses. However, if it is a pathologic one, treatment becomes hard and may result in severe consequences. Following is a list of complications that may arise due to prolonged lack of treatment.

• Cataracts.
• Glaucoma.
• Myopic optic neuropathy.
• Neovascularization.
• Retinal detachment.

(Note: High myopia occurs when the eyeball becomes too long or the cornea appears extremely steepened.)

If you find trouble to see things clearly, we are more than happy to help. Arrange an appointment with our optometrist and get early treatment.

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Diagnostic procedures for myopic eyes

Eyecare professionals use a step-by-step strategy to diagnose myopia. Have a quick look below to learn the procedures. These include:

1. Assessing medical history

Your ophthalmologist will guide you through this process, ensuring that all necessary information is collected. They will ask you to complete a questionnaire about your symptoms and associated health concerns. Consider making a note of the following points.

• Symptoms that you are currently facing
• The duration of these symptoms
• Whether there is any presence of headaches and other difficulties
• Sensations of discomfort
• Any history of eye diseases
• Prevalence of eye infection or allergy
• Prior optical surgeries
• Your smoking habits
• Whether you use any eye ointment or medicine
• Frequency of maintaining eye hygiene

2. Eye testing

Next, the ophthalmologist will check your eyes to assess your visual health. Standard examination procedures involve:

• Visual acuity test: The doctor will make you see through the phoropter at the Snellen eye chart. This helps in preparing a suitable prescription for clear vision.
• Random E's Visual Acuity Test: Also known as the 'Tumbling E game', this is employed for evaluating the visual sharpness of children between the ages of 3 and 5 years. Instead of different letters, this chart uses a single capital letter, 'E', facing in random directions. The suspected child is made to use the fingers to pinpoint the direction in which the E's arms are facing. Additionally, simplified images of objects like houses and flowers may be used.
• Slit lamp examination: This is a very common procedure in eye checkups where the eye professional uses a bright light and a microscope to assess the front and back of your eyes.
• Retinoscopy: This is a method in which the doctor uses a lighted retinoscope to measure the refracting index of the retina. By adjusting the lenses in front of the eye, the doctor can determine the refractive errors in the eye and confirm myopia's presence. It is highly beneficial for young children and teenage adults.  
• Autorefraction: Uses an automated instrument for diagnosing refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism etc.  While the test is being performed, the ophthalmologist makes the suspected look into the machine's viewfinder. The device then automatically quantifies the power of the eyes. It is among the most reliable and accurate forms of myopic testing, as it minimizes the subjectivity issues associated with conventional methods.  

(Note: Besides having problems with eyeball steepness, an individual may face conditions such as diabetes and visual stress. These are no less harmful than a de-shaped cornea and may prompt a medical diagnosis.)

How to treat myopia?

The primary goal of myopia treatment is to restore normal vision. This can be achieved by wearing corrective glasses or contact lenses. However, in extremities, refractive surgery is needed. Based on the severity of your symptoms, the ophthalmologist may select any of the following management options:

• Minus-powered glasses: The most popular way for myopia correction is wearing eyeglasses. Doctors prescribe glasses that have minus power; for example, -3.00. However, this power depends upon the level of visual correction, i.e., a person having a steeper lens will need a greater negative value to balance out the condition. Also, this determines whether he will require a full-day wearing or for specific periods. Some people wear glasses only for driving or reading blackboards, while some may need to put them on throughout the day. However, if you are middle-aged, consider wearing bifocal specs to easily view both near and far objects.   
• Contact lenses: Some people may find their distance vision more precise and sharper with contact lenses. However, there is a small drawback. Contact lenses must be kept free of dirt to prevent microbial infections from passing onto the eyes. Thus, it is better to consult a certified ophthalmologist before switching to wearing contact lenses.
• Ortho-k or CRT: If you suffer from mild myopic symptoms, the doctor may suggest wearing temporary corneal refractive contact lenses. The best part is that you can always put them on and carry on with your routine activities.
• Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis: Also known as LASIK, this is a common surgical procedure to correct nearsightedness. During this process, the ophthalmologist uses a laser to create a flap through the top surface of the cornea. This reshapes the inner corneal tissue and helps resolve refractive errors.
• Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy: Also called LASEK, it involves an ophthalmologist using a laser to cut a flap through only the epithelial layer of your cornea. This procedure helps reshape the outer layers and maintain normal vision.  
• Photorefractive keratectomy: Popularly known as PRK, this procedure also uses a laser to correct nearsightedness. It is applicable for treating both moderate and severe myopia symptoms and involves cutting off the frontal surface of corneal tissue first. Then, the laser is applied to flatten the corneal surface so that light rays can focus on the retina. Unlike LASIK, the ophthalmologist doesn't create a flap, and the corneal tissue regrows within a few weeks. This procedure is better for people with rough and thinner corneas.  
• Phakic intraocular lenses: These are a better alternative for people with severe myopia. Doctors put them inside the eye before the natural lens to correct vision.
• Intraocular lens implant: In this process, ophthalmologists surgically insert a new lens within the eyes instead of the natural one. This procedure is also known for preventing cataract development.
• Vision therapy: This can be a suitable option for minimizing muscle spasms. Vision therapy involves strengthening eye muscles through exercise, thus improving vision. However, this treatment is not appropriate for everyone. Therefore, it's better to consult an ophthalmologist, who will let you know if it suits you best.

Preventive steps you can adopt

Some ophthalmic experts believe that following certain guidelines can decrease the risk of myopia. Below is a list of them.

• Not exposing the eyes to direct sun rays
• Minimizing screen time, especially during nighttime
• Avoiding work and studies in dim light
• Giving pause to the eyes and doing exercises that uplift visual health
• Wearing protective eyewear such as sunglasses every time you go out
• Cutting down on unhealthy habits like smoking and taking alcohol
• Asking the eye doctor to prescribe atropine drops
• Scheduling routine eye checkups

Foods to eat for keeping out myopia

Myopia is an eye condition whose development can only be delayed and not cured. Proper nutrition, however, can maintain the health and function of eye tissues. Consider having foods that are rich in:

• Vitamin A: It is an essential micronutrient that helps maintain healthy eyes. Opt for organic foods such as sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables, carrots and seasonal fruits. You can also have cheese, milk, fatty fish, egg yolks, animal liver, etc. These contain high amounts of carotene and calcium needed for crystal-clear vision. 
• Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, such as lemons, oranges, grapefruit, gooseberries and strawberries, are the best source of vitamin C-enriched foods. So, include them in your diet as much as you can!  
• Lutein: Eat leafy green vegetables as much as possible to meet your daily requirement of lutein. It helps filter out harmful UV rays that cause retinal damage.  
• Taking multivitamin supplements: Daily meals may not fulfil the dietary requirements needed for optimal eye functioning. In such cases, taking multivitamin tablets or pills may help. However, it is best to consult a healthcare provider before starting any supplements.

When do you need to visit the doctor?

Once you develop myopia, your ophthalmologist will guide you on the steps needed to prevent symptoms from worsening. He will also arrange for follow-up visits as and when required, depending upon the intensity of your condition. However, treat doctor visits as a priority if you experience the following symptoms:

• Appearance of new signs such as intense headaches and eye pain
• Exacerbation of existent symptoms
• Side effects from current treatments

Final words

Myopia is a condition that cannot be fully cured. Doctors, at the most, are able to correct vision by prescribing corrective treatments and surgery procedures. However, if you face trouble seeing far objects for a prolonged time, do not ignore the condition anymore. Contact Vision Cure Clinic today and check your eyes before it gets too late!

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