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Myopia or nearsightedness is an eye disorder that, in simple terms, causes difficulty in seeing objects at a distance clearly. On the other hand, it also means that close-by objects can be seen clearly and easily.
Thus, one when has myopia, one can see near-by objects clearly. This can help in activities like sewing or reading. At the same time, myopia prevents one from seeing far off objects clearly; thus highway signs, or even any object held at a relatively far distance from the eyes appear blurred.
Myopia is a very common disorder. It usually begins to occur in school-age children who have high levels of exposure to television or computer screens. However, myopia also occurs in adults if they undergo visual stress or suffer from health conditions like diabetes etc. It is sometimes known to be inherited and can occur due to injury to the eye as well.
Signs and Symptoms of myopia
In Myopia, eye focus is incorrect, and this causes people with myopia to squint when they try to view objects which are at a distance.
Other signs that indicate the onset of myopia include regular headaches (although this is regarded as a rarity), blurred vision of objects at a distance. For School children, it can be identified when they complain about not being able to see the chalkboard in class properly. Eye fatigue or tiredness in vision is also a possible symptom of myopia.
If one has to hold objects like a book close to the eyes while reading, or if one sits too close to the television or computer monitor screen, then myopia has set in and one must visit the ophthalmologist.
Correcting myopia
Myopia can be completely cured, and this can happen with a laser surgery. Refractive surgery, LASIK or PRK, helps in eliminating the need for contact lenses or eye glasses to correct myopia.
However, normally, eye glasses or contact lenses are prescribed for people with myopic vision, regardless of their age. What treatment does depend on, however, is the extent of myopia that has taken place.
On visiting the ophthalmologist, eye tests are conducted, with a phoropter and retinoscope usually being used in the eye exam. Testing may be done without the use of eye drops to determine how the eyes respond under normal seeing conditions.
After this, an optometrist is consulted so that the extent of near sightedness is realized. A specific ‘number’ is provided for this reason. This number, known was the optical number, indicates the level of correctness one’s eyes need. In the case of near sightedness, the ‘number’ prescribed is negative. The higher the number, it indicates that the strength of the eye glasses or contact lenses must be higher as well.
Degenerative myopia
It is a severe form of myopia which results in rapidly progressive vision loss. Symptoms usually include decreased vision, headaches and sensitivity to light.
Like the normal form of myopia, it can occur during the pre-teen years, and is known to be hereditary. It is similar to Age-related macular degeneration.