Myopia: Risk Factors, Long-Term Complications And Treatment

What Is Myopia?

Also known as near-sightedness, Myopia is a common vision condition in which distant objects appear blurry while close-up objects remain clear. It occurs when the eye is too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it.

In myopia, the eye focuses light from near objects more effectively than light from objects further away. This means that short-sighted people can see close objects clearly because the light rays from these objects enter the eyes at an angle and focus correctly on the retina. In contrast, distant objects appear more blurry as their light rays do not focus properly in the eye.

Myopia, one of the most significant threats to eye health, affects one in six children in the UK, and its prevalence has doubled over the past 50 years. This growing trend is not limited to the UK; globally, it is predicted that by 2050, up to 50% of the world's population may suffer from Myopia.

Causes And Risk Factors

With Myopia, the shape of your eye prevents light from bending properly, so that light is aimed in front of your retina instead of on your retina. For example, the cornea at the front of your eye may be too steeply curved, or your eye may be longer front to back than normal. In either case, the light rays fall short of the retina. When light is not focused on the retina as it should be, your vision is blurry.

Certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing myopia, including:

1. Genetics: Myopia tends to run in families. If one of your parents is myopic, your risk of developing the condition is increased. The risk is higher if both parents are myopic.
2. Prolonged close-up activities: Reading or doing other close-up activities for a long time is associated with an increased risk of myopia.
3. Screen time: Studies have shown that children who use computers or smart devices for long periods have a greater risk of developing myopia.
4. Environmental conditions: Some studies support the idea that not spending enough time outdoors may increase the risk of myopia.

Symptoms Of Myopia

Myopia primarily affects the ability to see distant objects clearly, but it can come with other related symptoms. Here’s what to look out for:

1. Blurred Vision for Distant Objects: The most obvious symptom is difficulty seeing faraway objects, such as road signs, the board in a classroom, or television screens, while nearby objects remain clearly visible.
2. Squinting: People with myopia often squint to try to see distant objects more clearly. This is a natural reflex to reduce the blur by limiting the amount of light entering the eye.
3. Eye Strain: Constantly struggling to focus on distant objects can cause fatigue in the eye muscles, leading to discomfort, especially after prolonged periods of trying to see distant objects.
4. Headaches: Frequent headaches can occur due to the constant effort to focus on distant objects. This is often experienced after activities like driving or watching television.
5. Shortened Attention Span: Children with untreated myopia may struggle to focus on distant objects in classrooms. This could lead to a significant decrease in attention span, and adversely affect their academic performances.

Long-Term Complications

A person with high myopia has an increased risk of developing additional eye conditions. These may include:

1. Cataracts: These occur when the lens develops cloudy patches. Over time these patches usually become bigger causing blurry, misty vision and eventually blindness. 
2. Glaucoma: This refers to a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, typically due to increased pressure within the eye. This damage can lead to irreversible vision loss and, if left untreated, may result in blindness.
3. Optic Neuropathy: This refers to damage or dysfunction of the optic nerve, the bundle of nerve fibres responsible for transmitting visual information from your eyes to your brain. When this nerve is compromised, it can lead to vision loss or other visual disturbances.
4. Retinal Detachment: This is a condition where the retina detaches from the back of the eye, causing a sudden loss of vision. 
5. Neovascularisation: This refers to the abnormal growth of new blood vessels in the eyes. It can lead to serious vision problems and ultimately, blindness.

Diagnosis And Treatment

Regular eye exams are crucial for managing myopia and can help detect the early signs of eye conditions related to it. An optometrist can perform a number of tests to check whether or not a person is myopic. One part of the eye examination will involve the person reading letters of different sizes from a chart at the other side of the room. The smaller the numbers, the harder they will be for someone with myopia to make out.

Once an optometrist has confirmed a diagnosis of myopia, several treatments are available. Speaking to an optometrist can help a person decide on the best option for them. Here are some treatment options available:

1. Glasses: Hyperopia can usually be corrected easily by wearing prescription glasses. These help your eyes focus correctly so you can see nearby objects clearly.
2. Contact Lenses: Hyperopia can also be corrected by wearing contact lenses, which may be a better option if glasses would get in the way of your lifestyle. People with hyperopia usually wear contact lenses which are 'plus' or convex in shape to achieve normal vision.
3. Refractive Surgery: Procedures like laser eye surgery, refractive lens exchange (RLE) and implantable collamer lens (ICL) have been established as effective ways of correcting hyperopia.
4. Vision Therapy: This refers to tailored program of exercises aimed at improving eye function, coordination, and focusing ability, particularly helpful for reducing eye strain and managing near-point stress.

Management

There are everyday steps you can take that can support your overall eye health. These days, it’s especially important to set limits for your children (and yourself) on activities that lead to eye strain.

These steps include:

1. Limiting time on digital devices.
2. Taking screen breaks to stretch your eye muscles.
3. Avoiding the practice of reading or working in dim light.
4. Going outdoors and wearing sunglasses when you’re out.
5. Wearing protective eye gear for sports/hobbies.
6. Cutting down on smoking.
7. Scheduling regular eye exams.
8. Eating food rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C & Lutein.

Optimax’s Precision-Oriented Approach To Correcting Myopia

At Optimax, we provide exceptional solutions to a wide range of vision defects making use of cutting-edge technology. As the UK’s longest-established eye surgery specialists, our track record speaks for itself.

We are able to fix myopia easily through these procedures:

1. Laser Eye Surgery: Depending on the laser eye treatment deemed suitable, a thin layer is gently lifted away from the surface of the eye so the laser can access the layer below and correct the prescription with pinpoint accuracy. We offer two types of laser eye surgery, LASIK and LASEK. The same lasers are used for each procedure and both produce outstanding results.
2. RLE Surgery: In RLE, the eye's natural lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to improve vision. This allows for clear vision at multiple distances, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses. RLE also eliminates the need for cataract surgery in later life.
3. ICL Surgery: This involves implanting a thin, biocompatible lens inside the eye to correct refractive errors. It is often considered for individuals with a higher than average prescription, or eye surface characteristics (like thinner corneas) that makes them ineligible for laser eye correction.

Our optometrists and eye surgeons will recommend the best treatment option for you. They will consider your lifestyle and prescription to recommend which of these procedures will be best suited for you.

If you have any questions regarding myopia, refractive surgery, or eye care in general, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are more than happy to discuss queries with you over the phone (0800 093 1110) or email (enquiry@optimax.co.uk).