Myopia is an eye condition in which distant objects appear blurry while nearby objects remain clear. This common refractive error occurs when the eye grows too long from front to back, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. Most people manage myopia with prescription glasses or contact lenses. However, it’s important to note that myopia can progress over time, especially from childhood through the mid-twenties, potentially increasing the risk of complications such as retinal detachments, macular degeneration 🔗, cataracts 🔗, and glaucoma 🔗. Fortunately, modern solutions are available that can slow, reduce, or even stop the progression of myopia.
The exact cause of myopia isn’t completely understood, but several factors are known to play a role:
- Genetic predisposition: Myopia often runs in families, so if your parents are myopic, you might have a higher risk.
- Environmental factors: Spending extended periods on close-up tasks like reading, using digital devices, or doing detailed work can contribute to the development of myopia.
- Lack of outdoor time: Research suggests that insufficient time spent outdoors during childhood may increase the risk of myopia. Natural light and looking at distant objects are thought to be protective factors.
- Eye growth: Myopia typically develops as the eye grows, particularly in childhood and early adulthood, when the eye’s shape can change more rapidly.
While you cannot completely prevent myopia—especially if it runs in your family—there are several strategies to reduce its risk and slow its progression:
- Increase outdoor activities: Spending more time outdoors during childhood has been associated with a lower risk of developing myopia.
- Manage close-up work: Taking regular breaks during prolonged periods of near work (following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds) can help reduce eye strain.
- Myopia control options: For those already experiencing myopia, options such as myopia control glasses (e.g., lenses like Hoya MiYOSMART or Zeiss MyoCare), specially designed contact lenses, and atropine eye drops have been shown to slow the progression of myopia. These treatments are increasingly available in Australian optometry practices.
Recognising the signs and symptoms of myopia early is key to managing it effectively. Here are some common indicators:
- Blurry distance vision: The most obvious symptom is difficulty seeing objects in the distance clearly. For example, road signs, a whiteboard in a classroom, or a TV screen may appear blurred.
- Eye strain: You might experience discomfort or fatigue in your eyes, especially after extended periods of activities that require clear distance vision.
- Headaches: Frequent headaches can occur as your eyes work harder to focus on distant objects.
- Squinting: You may find yourself squinting to see distant details more clearly.
- Frequent changes in prescription: As myopia progresses, you might notice that your glasses or contact lens prescription needs to be updated more frequently.
Myopia is typically managed with a variety of treatments designed to correct vision and, in many cases, slow its progression. Here are some of the common approaches:
- Prescription glasses: The most common and straightforward method for correcting myopia. Recent developments include myopia control glasses such as those featuring Hoya MiYOSMART 🔗 or Zeiss MyoCare 🔗 lenses, which are designed specifically to slow the progression of myopia.
- Contact lenses: Regular contact lenses correct myopia, and there are specialized contact lenses designed to control its progression.
- Atropine eye drops: Low-dose atropine eye drops have been shown to slow the progression of myopia in children and young adults by relaxing the eye’s focusing mechanism.
- Lifestyle adjustments: Encouraging breaks during near work and increasing outdoor activities can support overall eye health and may help slow myopia progression.
- Regular monitoring: Ongoing check-ups with an optometrist ensure that any progression is tracked and treatment plans are adjusted as needed.
- Laser eye surgery: For adults with a stable prescription, laser eye surgery (such as LASIK or PRK) can be an option. This procedure reshapes the cornea to improve how light is focused on the retina, reducing or even eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. However, it’s generally not recommended for children or for those whose prescriptions are still changing.
When should I see an optical professional?
Difficulty seeing objects in the distance clearly is a primary sign you need to get your eyes checked. For children with a family history myopia, we recommend an eye check when your child about 5 years of age if no earlier signs appear. Solutions exist to slow myopia progression if detected early that will drastically ensure your child’s quality of sight for a lifetime.
