Myopia is an eye condition that affects a large percentage of people across the world. People with myopia can see objects that are near them, but they have a challenge seeing objects that are further away from them. Myopia is also known as nearsightedness. It can be a congenital condition, or it can develop over time.
 

Types of Myopia

Myopia presents in three different types. The first one is simple myopia, where the refractive issue causing nearsightedness can be fixed with simple lenses. The second one is the high myopia. It occurs when the patient develops myopia at a young age, and the condition gets worse as the person grows older.
 

High myopia puts the patient at risk of developing other conditions, such as cataracts, retinal detachment, and glaucoma. The third one is pathological myopia. This is a type of degenerative myopia that causes retinal thinning. It can also cause retinal atrophy or scarring in the retina. This leads to blind spots in parts of the retina that do not work. This type of myopia can lead to visual impairment.
 

Symptoms of Myopia

The most common symptom of myopia is the patient’s inability to see objects that are far from them. Objects appear blurry or distorted. Patients also get tired eyes, headaches, and they squint to see clearly. Poor visibility in low lot areas is also a symptom of myopia.
 

You can detect childhood myopia in children by observing their behavior. One sign is if they move too close to the television screen. Or if they hold their books too close to their face, there could be a problem. If they blink excessively and rub eyes frequently, take them for an eye exam.
 

Causes of Myopia

Myopia is a refractive error that happens when light does not bend correctly in the retina. For the eye to work properly, light enters through the cornea. It is controlled by the pupil and bent in an upside-down image on the retina; the retina has photosensitive cells that turn light into signals and sends them into the brain for interpretation. A person with myopia is unable to bend or correctly refract light.
 

People with eyeballs that are too long develop myopia. A cornea that is too curved or irregular in shape can also be a cause of myopia. People with parents who have myopia are also at risk of inheriting the genes. Research reveals that people who spend too much time doing up-close focus activities, such as reading, using computers, and writing, are at a high risk of developing myopia. When a person overuses the eyes’ ability to focus on close objects, they may have a hard time focusing on objects that are further away.
 

Is Myopia Treatable?

The good news is that myopia is treatable. Mild cases of myopia are treated with glasses, contact lenses, or LASIK surgery. People with irregular shape cornea are treated with orthokeratology. The patient wears rigid contact lenses that help to reshape the cornea. Severe types of myopia are treated with corrective surgery procedures. In extreme cases, a corrective lens is implanted in the eye via surgery.
 

To know more about myopia, visit Inclima Eye Care at our offices in West Haven, Connecticut. You can also call (203) 694-0418 to book an appointment today.