Myopia Control and Management

Today we want to talk about Myopia! 

Myopia or nearsightedness is a common eye condition that impacts how clearly you can see.  Generally, people with myopia see better up close, for example while you are looking at your computer or phone, than you do when looking in the distance, like driving or watching a movie.  Although myopia is common, it is becoming more prevalent in the world and it is predicted more than half of the population will be myopic by the year 2050! You might be asking yourself, what causes Myopia? Let's talk about it! 

Normal EyeMyopic Eye

Myopia is caused by an abnormal lengthening of the eye (The fancy term for this is axial elongation). This causes an improper focusing of light inside the eye and leads to blurry vision. The strength of a patient's glasses or contact lens prescription corresponds with the length of their eyeball and therefore, the longer the eyeball, the higher their prescription. 

A patient with myopia not only experiences blurry vision, but also has an increased risk of developing eye diseases.  The stretching of the eyeball from myopia causes a weakening of the tissue inside of the eye.  Conditions such as retinal detachments, macular degeneration and glaucoma are more common in myopic patients. But not all is lost!

The first step in addressing myopia is detecting it. The best way to do so is through routine comprehensive eye exams. That means you should be coming in every year to get a full work up on your eyes! The results from the exam help determine if the vision can be improved with glasses or contact lenses or if other treatments are required. 

Whether you have myopia or not, routine, yearly eye exams should be a priority for everyone in your family! Your eyes need you, and you need your eyes! 

Stay tuned to our social media for more info coming on Myopia with Dr. Andrew!