Myopia, or short-sightedness, is a very commonly met eye problem that results in having difficulty seeing distant objects, they seem to appear blurry and unclear, while close objects can be seen clearly and without a problem. It is becoming more and more common and is said to affect up to 1 in 3 people in the UK. Myopia is usually something that can quickly be fixed with eye glasses, contacts or eye surgery.
What is the cause?
Myopia is a type of refractive error. Just like other refractive error, it is the result of light not reaching the retina at a proper angle. One of the causes for that can be a longer eyeball. Bigger curve of the cornea, is also a very common cause for light landing off the spot for your retina. In result the light that enters the eye isn’t focused correctly and the images that appear focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it which in turn results to the images being blurry.
What is High Myopia?
High Myopia is a more serious and dangerous form of myopia. It is a more severe form of the condition and it happens when the eyeball is elongated at the back of the eye, causing the light to focus even further away from the place it is supposed to for a normal vision. This makes distant objects even harder to see, normally resulting in the need for at least 8 diopters on your eye prescription and it can also increase the chances of developing other serious eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma or detached retina. It usually stabilises when a person reaches the ages between 20-30 years old.
What is Degenerative Myopia?
Degenerative Myopia is also known as malignant or pathological myopia. It is a very rare type of the condition that is usually inherited. The eyeball grows very fast and causes a severe form of myopia which in most cases appears by one’s early adult years. One thing that should be kept in mind and is very dangerous is that this type of myopia can get extremely worse in adulthood as it not only results in having trouble with seeing things that are distant but also highly increases the chances of developing glaucoma or retinal detachment.
What are the symptoms and how can it be treated?
The main symptom of Myopia is having a hard time seeing distant objects. The strain from your eyes trying to focus can lead to experiencing headaches, eye fatigue and eye strain. Squinting your eyes can also be a symptom that you are having trouble focusing.
Once properly diagnosed the problem is usually quite easy to correct by using glasses or contacts that will help you see properly. It is important to deal with any type of refractive error as early as possible, since they progress further and may reach a point where daily tasks may become more of a chore than they should be. A reflective surgery is also an effective solution!
If you notice that you are experiencing any symptoms, please contact a professional and get your eyes properly tested in order to start treatment and discover any problems that you may have!