Myopia

What is a myopia?

Despite the complicated-sounding name myopia can simply be referred to as near or short-sightedness. In essence, this means that the person affected by myopia will be able to see objects that are near to them more clearly however when the object is further away it will appear blurry. See the photo example below for a visual representation of myopia.

What causes myopia?

The main cause for myopia is when the eyeball is too long or when the cornea (the front clear cover of the eye) has too much curvature. The result of this means that the light entering the eye can’t focus correctly, thus making distant objects appear blurry.

Research (College Optometrists) has shown that nearly one in five teenagers in the UK are now myopic. This shows that there is a high chance of a teenager having this condition. So what are the common indicators which may suggest that your child might have such a visual impairment like this? 

Myopia characteristics

• Complaints of blurry vision, for example not being able to see the board in the classroom
• Having to be close up to screens to see them
• Squinting to try to see better
• Frequent eye rubbing
• Frequent headaches

Managing myopia

Myopia adds various complications to the way the individual experiences the world visually. The main way in which we interact with our environment is through our vision. Someone with myopia will struggle with seeing objects at a distance.

In this modern age, an initial indicator of myopia might be a person sitting closer to the TV, or moving a device closer to their face. Minimising the distance may help the person’s ability to see, but these adjustments will cause some physical and psychological discomfort.

Imagine every situation in your day-to-day life; your perception of your world is limited by the distance you can see. As a result an inconvenience is created due to the constant readjustments to recognize objects from far away.

This may exacerbate the person’s current problems and lead to a sense of frustration. The person may also suffer from physical hindrances such as eye strain due to the instinctive adjustments made to see things at a distance.

Strategies and Tips for Managing Myopia

• Take regular breaks when using technology like computers, mobile phones, and tablets. Try to take breaks every 15-20 minutes.
• Try spending more time outside – myopia tends to get worse when you spend too much time focusing on activities within your close vision. Spend more time outdoors focussing on objects that are in the distance.
• Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet light when you are outside to prevent sun damage.
• Make sure you eat plenty of leafy greens, vegetables, and fruit. Studies have shown that diets high in omega-3 fatty acids greatly benefit eye health. This includes foods such as tuna and salmon.
• Due to having to look at screens closer, options which remove the blue light on devices can reduce strain on the eyes.

Treating Myopia

Prescription lenses: wearing corrective lenses treats nearsightedness by counteracting the increased curvature of your cornea or the increased length of your eye. This can be through wearing glasses or contact lenses. It is important to speak with your doctor about the pros and cons for each option.

Refractive surgery: refractive surgery reduces the need for prescription lenses. This works through the use of a laser beam to reshape the cornea, resulting in a decreased nearsighted prescription. Even after surgery, glasses may still be needed some of the time.

• Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK): The eye surgeon will make a thin, hinged flap into your cornea. They then use a laser to remove inner layers of your cornea to flatten its domed shape. Recovery from LASIK surgery is usually more rapid and causes less discomfort than other corneal surgeries.
• Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK). The surgeon creates an extremely thin flap only in the cornea’s outer protective cover (epithelium). They then use a laser to reshape the cornea’s outer layers, flattening its curve, and then replace the epithelium.
• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). This procedure is similar to LASEK, except the surgeon completely removes the epithelium, then uses the laser to reshape the cornea. The epithelium is not replaced, but will grow back naturally, moulding to your cornea’s new shape.

Other treatments such as atropine drops have been shown to slow the progression of myopia, and dual focus lenses have been shown to slow the progression of myopia in children between the ages of 8 and 12.

Myopia and other eye conditions: retinal detachment

Studies have shown that other conditions including retinal detachment are more common in people with myopia.

This is because people with myopia have an elongated shape to the eyeball known as axial elongation. This means that the retina is stretched and therefore can be prone to tears. People with Smith-Magenis Syndrome are at an increased risk of retinal detachment. This is due to the high frequency of myopia, combined with self-injurious head-banging, and hyperactivity.

The term ‘retinal detachment’ is used to describe when the thin layer of tissue (the retina) pulls away from the back of the eye. Tiny specks that float through your field of vision (floaters), blurred vision, and flashes of light are common warning signs. The photo below demonstrates how these symptoms might appear.

It is important to take vision complaints seriously as children often naturally adapt to the visual impairment until their vision becomes significantly impaired.

Resources

Vision simulator