Myopia = near-sightedness

A condition in which close-up objects look clear but distant objects are blurry. The condition may develop gradually or rapidly.

Some of the signs and symptoms of myopia include:

• eyestrain,
• headaches,
• squinting to see properly, and
• difficulty seeing objects far away, such as road signs or a blackboard at school.

Young children with myopia might not complain about their blurry vision, that is why eye exams and vision tests are important in young children. Nearsightedness is often discovered in children when they are between ages 8 and 12 years old. During the teenage years,when the body grows rapidly, myopia may become worse.Between the ages of 20 and 40, there is usually little change

• How is Myopia Caused:

  For you to see clearly, light rays must travel through the front layers of the eye the cornea and lens). The cornea and lens work together to bend the light so it lands on the back layer of the eye, called the retina. The retina then sends a signal to your brain that allows you to see

  With nearsightedness, the shape of your eye prevents light from bending properly, so that light is aimed in front of your retina instead of on your retina. For example, the cornea at the front of your eye may be too steeply curved, or your eye may be longer front to back than normal. In either case, the light rays fall short of the retina. When light is not focused on the retina as it should be, your vision is blurry.

• Risk Factors for Myopia:

  There is a genetic component to Myopia, so if there is a family history of nearsightedness, it is more likely to occur.

   

  Increased use of technology - compared to twenty years ago, children are interacting with more types of technology more often. Children are using technology at a much younger age with lengthy screen times.

   

  One of the biggest factors is decreased outdoor time - when combined with access to technology, time spent playing outdoors has decreased. Various studies have concluded that time spent outdoors allows eyes to benefit from improved light and the ability to focus at distance. 

• What can you do to minimize the risk?

  - Limited use of technology, including frequency of use, length of use and time of use.

  - Get outdoors. Go to the park, go for a walk or a bike ride. 

  - Get your and your childrens eyes tested, many eye conditions are controllable or curable when diagnosed early, and progressive myopia is one of those conditions.

• How is Myopia Diagnosed?

  An eye doctor diagnoses nearsightedness as part of a comprehensive eye examination.