What is Myopia?
Myopia, a disease that affects many people, causes near objects to appear clear while distant objects appear blurry. It happens when light rays incorrectly bend (refract) due to the shape of the eye or specific portions of the eye. The retina is the area on the rear of the eye where light should be directed; however, with myopia, it is focused in front of the retina. Myopia usually develops during childhood or adolescence and usually runs in families. Nearsightedness typically becomes more stable between the ages of 20 and 40.
Signs You Should See an Eye Doctor
To find out if you or your child has a refractive error, schedule a Myopia exam with Dr. Ashley at Brightside Eye Care. Look for these signs and symptoms of nearsightedness.
- Squinting when viewing TV or objects some distance away
- Putting one’s face near a computer or TV screen
- Seating yourself in the front of the room so you can see the teacher and the board plainly.
- Keeping books near the eyes
- Reluctance to participate in sports requiring good distant vision
- Reduced visual clarity compared to family and friends
Myopia Management
Both myopia control and myopia management are phrases used to refer to the additional clinical care needed for myopic children and adults. Myopia control typically entails using eye drops, contacts, or glasses to stop the progression of myopia. Myopia management is a broad term that encompasses maintaining eye health as well as various lifestyle and environmental factors that may contribute to the advancement of myopia.
It requires the use of glasses or contact lenses to treat blurry distance vision. In contrast, if your myopia is lower, you are more functional in the morning before you put on your glasses or contact lenses; you are able to work a little better without them as opposed to becoming totally impaired. Moreover, a lower prescription increases the likelihood that your child will be a good candidate for laser eye surgery as an adult to treat their myopia, as well as the likelihood that they will have superior visual results.
Treatments for Myopia
By using corrective lenses or refractive surgery to help focus light on your retina, nearsightedness is typically treated with the intention of improving vision. Treating nearsightedness also entails routinely checking for the condition’s side effects, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment. Not all treatments are suitable for children.
Prescription Lenses
By reducing your cornea’s increased curvature or your eye’s increased length, corrective lenses can remedy nearsightedness. Prescription eyewear varieties include:
- Eyeglasses: This is a quick, secure method to correct nearsightedness and improve vision. A combination of refractive defects, such as nearsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia, can also be corrected using eyeglass lenses.
- Contact lenses: The cornea is covered by tiny, plastic disks known as contact lenses. Several refractive errors may be corrected with a single contact lens. There are various materials and upkeep specifications. Contact lenses best suited to your prescription and lifestyle can be suggested by your eye care professional.
Surgical Options for Adults
For some people with nearsightedness, surgical interventions are not a possibility. Only when nearsightedness stops increasing is surgery advised. The advantages and disadvantages of surgical treatment choices will be addressed by your surgeon. Glasses and contact lenses are not as necessary after refractive surgery. The cornea is reshaped by your eye surgeon using a laser, which reduces the need for nearsighted prescription lenses. You might still need to wear eyeglasses occasionally following surgery.
- Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK): Your eye doctor will cut a tiny, hinged flap into your cornea during this surgery. The corneal tissue is removed with a laser to flatten its oblong shape. Compared to other corneal procedures, LASIK recovery is typically quicker and more comfortable
- Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK): On the outside protective layer of the cornea, the surgeon makes an extremely thin flap (epithelium). The cornea is then reshaped by flattening its curve using a laser, and the epithelium is subsequently replaced.
- Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK): Similar to LASEK, this surgery involves fully removing the epithelium before the cornea is reshaped using a laser. The cornea is protected with a temporary, protective contact lens until your cornea’s epithelium naturally heals and molds to its new shape.
- Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE): There is no flap or epithelium removal with this surgery. Instead, a tiny disk-shaped piece of the cornea called a lenticule is sliced with a laser and extracted through a tiny corneal incision.
Conclusion
Children and teenagers will see fewer prescription changes as a result of controlling their myopia. Children and teenagers will have superior vision for school, sports, and other daily activities since eyesight is more stable and declines less between eye exams. Myopia management also has long-term advantages in that it lowers a person’s lifelong chance of developing eye conditions and losing their vision.
