Myopia (Nearsightedness)

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• QCan contact lenses prevent nearsightedness from getting worse?

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  A American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart answered

  Some people have been led to believe that wearing contact lenses will permanently correct nearsightedness so that eventually they won’t need either contacts or eyeglasses.
  There is no evidence that wearing contact lenses produces a permanent improvement in vision or prevents nearsightedness from getting worse.
• QWhat is myopia?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  

  Myopia is the medical term for nearsightedness. Myopia can occur in anyone at any age. Typically, diagnosis also includes the type or time of onset, such as youth, early, or late adult onset. In myopia, you have difficulty seeing things clearly at a distance, while things close are clear. Myopia is correctable, and may be mild or severe, beginning slowly or quickly.

  
  

  

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• QWhat increases my risk for high myopia?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  You have an increased risk for a higher degree of myopia if one or both parents have mid- to high-myopia. Severe elongation of the eyes increases the risk for high myopia and vision loss. Your risk for degenerative eye conditions like glaucoma and cataracts also increases without early and regular treatment for your high myopia.
• QWhat increases my risk for curvature myopia?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Curvature myopia can be congenital. The risk for congenital or acquired curvature myopia increases if one or both parents are nearsighted. Adults have an increased risk of developing myopia if they do a lot of work in front of a computer screen or other item that requires up close visual concentration.
• QHow does early adult-onset myopia affect the body?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Early adult-onset myopia is caused by the size and shape of your eye. These factors change how light is reflected onto the back of your eye. This makes images that are far away blurry. Specifically, the eye lens and cornea do not refract correctly on to the retina; instead they focus light in front of the retina.
• QWhat is high myopia?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  High myopia is a degenerative eye condition that leads to chronic eye disorders. People with a high degree of myopia have difficulty focusing on objects; objects that are located farther away appear blurry or unreadable. High myopia develops in eyes that are elongated instead of circular like a ball. Abnormal elongation of the eyes stretches the retina and other parts of the eye responsible for receiving light and focusing it on the retina. There's an increased risk for retinal tears and detachment with high myopia, which can lead to blindness.
• QWhat causes myopia?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  All types of myopia, regardless of the age it starts, cause blurry vision for things far away. The size and shape of your eye changes how light is refracted or reflected on the back of your eye. In myopia, your eyeball may be too big, or your cornea (the transparent surface of the eye) may be too curved for the light to reflect correctly. Changes in the size or shape of your eye generally occur during development prior to birth or in growth periods. Myopia tends to run in families.

• QWhat are the symptoms of myopia?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  The primary symptom of myopia is difficulty seeing objects clearly that are at a distance. When it is difficult to see, you may squint to make things far away appear more clearly. You may also move closer to things or hold objects closer to yourself for clarity. In addition, headaches, constant blinking, eye rubbing, and difficulty with distance perception may also indicate myopia.

• QHow is myopia diagnosed?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  An eye exam will be able to diagnosis any type of myopia. The doctor will shine a light into your eyes, so that they can see how and where the light is reflected. In addition, you will complete several other common tests, such as the Snellen Test Chart, where you read the letters row by row with one eye covered. This will aid them in determining a diagnosis of myopia. In addition, your doctor may ask about symptoms you are experiencing.

• QHow is myopia treated?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  There are two treatment options for myopia. The first is wearing corrective lenses, such as glasses or contact lenses. These are designed to correct for the size and shape of your eye to help you see distance clearly. The other option is surgery. LASIK surgery can correct the shape of your eye, fixing any vision problems.