Ever tried reading a road sign on a highway, but it looks all blurry, while the book in your hands is crystal clear? That’s myopia (also known as nearsightedness), a very common eye condition. It usually hits your eye in your teenage years, but sometimes earlier. This is a condition similar to your eyes being like a camera, but they focus on nearby things, making distant objects foggy.
What is the main cause? Well, according to experts, it’s a mix of your family genes and lifestyle, such as spending long hours indoors, little exposure to sunlight, or extended screen time. It cannot be cured fully, but the good news is? Myopia can be easily managed. Most individuals use glasses or contact lenses to help their eyes focus properly. Some even prefer laser surgery if suitable. So, next time you struggle to see far-off things, it may be an indication that it’s your eyes asking for a little help.
Read this blog to know:
- What is myopia?
- What are the causes of myopia?
- What are the best treatments for myopia?
Read Also: Myopia vs. Hypermetropia: What’s the Difference and How to Manage Them?
What is Myopia?
Myopia is commonly known as nearsightedness. As the name suggests, it means that you can clearly see near objects, but seeing far objects is challenging. For example, if you have nearsightedness, you may not be able to see trees on the highway until they’re just a few feet away.
Read Also: How to Improve Eyesight Naturally? Eye Care Tips
How Common is Myopia in India?
Myopia in 5–15-year-old urban Indian children rose steeply from 4.44% in 1999 to 21.15% in 2019. This reflects a worrying increase over the past two decades.
Read Also: Digital Eye Strain In Children: Signs, Effects & How To Manage It
What are the causes of myopia?
The exact reasons or causes behind myopia are still unknown, but experts say that there is a combination of hereditary and environmental factors.
Some of the common causes of myopia in children:
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Genetics
Children are more likely to get myopia if their parents are short-sighted.
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Eye shape
When the eyeball grows too long or the cornea is too curved, this leads to blurry distant vision.
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Too much screen and close work like reading time
Lots of close-up activities, such as scrolling on mobiles and reading books, can increase myopia risk.
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Insufficient outdoor time or less exposure to sunlight
Children who spend less time outdoors may develop myopia more quickly.
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Poor lighting or eye strain
Working or watching your favourite movie in dim light or straining often may contribute; however, the link is still being studied.
Read Also: Understanding Blurred Vision: Common Causes & Warning Signs
What are the risk factors for myopia?
Here are the risk factors for myopia in children:
- Urban living environment
- High educational pressure
- Having a family history of myopia
- Engaging in lots of close-up work, like reading or using screens
- Fewer outdoor activities
- Certain ethnic groups are more prone to getting myopia
Read Also: Common Eye Issues In Children And How Early Diagnosis Can Help
Can child myopia be reversed or treated?
Child myopia can’t be fully reversed or treated; however, treatments can slow down its worsening. Options for myopia management include regular eye checks, special glasses, contact lenses, low-dose eye drops, and spending more time outdoors or some exposure to morning sunlight.
Read Also: What Is Night Blindness? Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
Why can myopia not be reversed?
Yes, myopia cannot be reversed or treated fully. This is because it is caused by the eyeball growing too long or the cornea changing shape. These structural eye changes cannot be undone or shrunk back. Treatments may include glasses, contact lenses, or surgery, which only correct eye vision but don’t shorten the eyeball.
What are the complications of myopia?
If not managed early in a proper manner, myopia can turn into severe eye conditions such as:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Retinal detachment
- Optic neuropathy
- Neovascularization (unnecessary blood vessels in your eye)
To avoid these eye complications, consulting a doctor for proper myopia management is necessary.
What are the best myopia treatment options?
Myopia cannot be treated or cured but can be managed with treatment options. The best treatments for myopia are:
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Eyeglasses
Glasses are the most common way to correct vision; they help focus light properly so distant objects look clear. Some kids with myopia may only require them for certain activities such as watching TV and playing sports.
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Contact Lenses
Contacts give sharper and wider vision than glasses for many individuals. But this demands extra care, like proper cleaning and handling.
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Ortho-K (or Corneal reshaping lenses)
Special contact lenses worn overnight reshape the cornea temporarily. This can help you see clearly the next day without glasses or contacts.
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LASIK and Laser Surgeries
LASIK eye surgery is the most well-known and commonly performed laser surgery to correct vision problems such as nearsightedness (myopia). For healthy adults, this eye surgery reshapes the cornea permanently to correct vision, eliminating the need for glasses or contacts.
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Atropine Eye Drops
Low-dose atropine drops are used in kids to slow down the worsening of myopia. This eye drop relaxes eye muscles and reduces eye elongation.
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Lifestyle Changes
Sunlight exposure boosts the production of dopamine in your eyes, which facilitates normal eyeball growth. This can prevent the elongation in children that can cause myopia. Hence, spend more time outdoors, reduce screen time, and take regular breaks with distance viewing to manage myopia.
Conclusion
Managing myopia progression is simple when done under professional care. If you understand the causes and risk factors and follow your doctor’s advice, like spending more time outdoors, using prescribed glasses or drops, and maintaining healthy eye habits, you can slow myopia’s worsening effectively.
FAQs
Q: How to cure myopia naturally and effectively?
There’s no natural cure for myopia, but the good news is eye exercises, exposure to sunlight, and reducing screen time can help manage or slow its progress.
Q: What are natural remedies for myopia?
Natural ways include eating eye-friendly foods with vitamins, engaging in simple eye exercises, taking breaks from screens, and getting plenty of sunlight to prevent the eyeball elongation.
Q: What are the types of myopia?
Myopia mainly comes as:
- simple myopia (mild to moderate)
- high myopia (often exceeding -6.00 diopters), which is more severe and requires closer monitoring due to a higher risk of complications.
