Myopia / Nearsightedness

• Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common visual problem where objects far away appear blurred.

• This happens when the furthest focus point of the eye does not reach far distances.

• Myopia is usually corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

• There are approaches to changing or slowing the development of myopia using contact lenses, multifocal lenses, medications, and vision therapy.

What is myopia/nearsightedness?

Myopia is the visual condition of the eye where the eye is focused at a near point, and is unable to focus further away than that point. This is generally caused by the eye growing larger or longer than normal, which causes distant objects to be focused in front of, instead of on, the retina.

We call this being “near-sighted” because the nearsighted person can see up close but not far away.

How does childhood myopia develop?

Myopia usually develops in adolescence, though young children and babies can have myopia, and it is possible to develop myopia into early adulthood. During these periods of time, the eye will grow and lengthen. There is also some evidence that the eye will change in response to increased time spent on near tasks (reading, digital devices, etc).

How is near-sighted vision corrected?

Near-sighted vision is generally corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Glasses and contact lenses will refocus the light entering the eye so that distant objects can be seen clearly.

Can you slow or stop myopia from worsening or increasing?

There is currently a large volume of research and studies into controlling the progression of myopia. No treatment has been shown to completely or consistently stop or reverse myopia, however here are the most commonly used treatments.

Bifocal/Multi-focal Lenses

Bifocal lenses are lenses which have a stronger distance lens power at the top and a lower power at the bottom, better for seeing near objects or reading without strain. Traditional bifocal lenses have shown some effectiveness, though limited, on controlling myopia progression, though there are currently glasses lenses still in development which are designed to be used in myopia control.

Atropine Eyedrops

Atropine is a medication used to relax the internal focusing muscles of the eye. There is evidence in clinical trials that low doses of atropine over time may reduce the rate of growth of the eye.

Soft Multi-focal Contact Lenses

There has been recent clinical approval of a small number of multi-focal soft contact lens designs which have been shown to reduce the rate of myopic progression compared to conventional contact lenses.

Orthokeratology (Corneal Reshaping Treatment)

Specialized rigid contact lenses designed to be worn overnight can reshape the front of the eye (the cornea) to reduce myopia. This has been shown in many cases to effectively reduce myopic progression over time.

Visual Hygiene & Relaxation

Oftentimes, very low amounts of intermittent myopia can be successfully treated by implementing changes in habits and routines. By taking regular breaks when doing near work, doing regular outdoor activity/play, and using exercises which intentionally relax the eyes, the eyes are better able to focus at distance. This is particularly helpful when experiencing mild myopia symptoms late in the day or after doing a lot of computer work or reading.

What about laser eye surgery?

There are surgeries that can modify or correct the focus point of the eye which can correct for myopia, these are called refractive surgeries. The most common refractive surgery is LASIK, but there are other procedures available which can have similar effects. As with any eye surgery, LASIK and other refractive surgeries do carry risks.

Do you have a concern about your vision in the Kent, Auburn, Renton, Covington, Maple Valley, Enumclaw, or Black Diamond area?

Schedule an eye exam today!