What is it
Myopia is a visual defect that alters focus: those affected have a blurred and foggy vision of distant objects, while seeing nearby objects with sharpness and precision.
Causes
Myopia is generally caused by the presence of an excessively elongated eyeball or by a curvature higher than normal of the cornea, the transparent membrane that forms the front of the eye.
Even an excessive curvature of the lens, transparent structure placed behind the iris that acts as a lens, can be the cause of the defect.
All the characteristics described lead to a different focus than the norm: if in the normal eye the images are formed on the retina and give rise to a sharp focus, in the myopic eye the image is formed in front of the retina, generating a blurred vision of distant objects.
Most common symptoms
The typical image of those suffering from myopia is that of a person who often squints in an attempt to see better; This continuous effort to focus leads to eye strain and headaches that can also occur frequently.
Treatment
The treatments available for myopia are the use of glasses, the use of contact lenses or surgical correction.
Glasses are considered more effective in correcting forms of mild myopia (from 0 to 3 diopters) but, in general, they involve some negative aspects such as the vision of concentric reflections due to the thickness of the edge of the lenses that give rise to a distorted peripheral vision.
Contact lenses are also suitable for correcting moderate myopia (from 3 to 6 diopters) and high myopia (greater than 6 diopters) for those who tolerate their use.
To definitively correct myopia it is possible to intervene with instruments that use the laser to modify the excessive curvature of the cornea: the PRK procedure (surface corneal photoablation) removes part of the superficial tissue of the cornea making it more “flat” and is suitable for mild myopia.
The LASIK procedure (intrastromal keratomileusis) removes the innermost layers of the cornea after lifting the most superficial part, and can be used with myopia of any severity.
For the correction of high myopia, or those not treatable with laser, it is possible the surgical implantation of artificial crystalline lens in addition to the natural one or in place after the extraction of the natural lens.
When to consult your doctor
When recognizing the most common signs of myopia, and in particular the need to “squint” to try to see distant objects, it is good to consult an ophthalmologist.
The specialist, in addition to recognizing the visual defect, will be able to establish its severity and, based on this and the specific needs of the patient, recommend the most appropriate treatment possibilities.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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