Book an appointmentWhat is myopia (nearsighted)?
Myopia (nearsighted) is a pathology that is caused by a spherical refractory error in which light converges before reaching the retina and not on it, making distant vision difficult. Normally the eyes are longer than normal.
Myopia (nearsighted) is measured in diopters with a negative sign (-1,-2,-3…) and can be divided into:
- Mild myopia (nearsighted) (less than 6 diopters): it begins during school age (6 years) and the diopters increase until the age of 20, when it tends to stabilize. There is usually no structural changes in the eyeball.
- Pathological or magna myopia (nearsighted) (above 6 diopters): this is a degenerative eye disease that can reach up to 30 diopters. It presents ocular and visual alterations that can become serious.
Why does myopia occur?
Myopia (nearsighted) is usually due to the fact that the eyeball is more elongated than normal, but it can also be caused by an abnormal curvature of the cornea or lens that causes light to converge more than is desirable. It is common for people with a family history of myopia disease, are more prone to be nearsighted.
This is myopia
How is myopia (nearsighted) manifested?
Myopia (nearsighted) manifests as blurred distance vision, which cannot be compensated by visual accommodation. It is common for myopic people to often squint to see distant objects a little more clearly.
The nearsighted patient sees near objects clearly, since less visual accommodation is needed.
As with farsightedness, special attention should be paid to school-age children, since poor school performance, being unable to read the blackboard, getting too close to books to read, or sitting close to the book or the television are common symptoms.
Myopia (nearsighted) treatments
The efficacy of any type of medical treatment to stop the evolution of myopia (nearsighted) or to cure it has not been proven, despite attempts to give vitamins, drops, diet, exercise, undercorrection…
However, myopia (nearsighted) can be optically corrected through the use of diverging lenses in the form of glasses or contact lenses, which allow the focus of light rays to be extended so that they reach the retina.
In addition, patients who wish to do without this type of correction can benefit from surgical treatments, normally when myopia (nearsighted) has already stabilized:
LASIK laser refractive surgery on the corneal layers or ring implantation are often effective for low diopter myopia (nearsighted). Instead, for high myopia (nearsighted) or those contraindicated for the use of laser, an intraocular lens implant can be performed.
Pyopia prevention
Myopia (nearsighted) cannot be prevented. It is important to carry out periodic eye examinations, focusing more on childhood, to detect it at the onset of the disease.
Summary
Debut
It usually appears at school age (6 years) and evolves until the age of 20, where it tends to stabilize.
Symptoms
Blurred far vision but clear near vision.
Revision
Periodic eye check-ups should be emphasized in childhood, and in patients with a family history of myopia (nearsighted).
Prevention
Myopia (nearsighted) cannot be prevented, but it can be detected early.
