Nearsightedness

What is Myopia?

Myopia, often referred to as nearsightedness, is the most common refractive error of the eye, where close objects appear very clear but objects further away tend to be blurry.

Nearsightedness develops in eyes that focus images in front of the retina instead of on the retina.

It occurs:

• When the eyeball becomes too long, preventing light from focusing directly on the retina.
• When the cornea is irregularly shaped
• When the lens is abnormally shaped

Symptoms of Myopia

Nearsightedness can affect both adults and children but is most commonly diagnosed in children between the ages of 8-12.

Some of the signs and symptoms of nearsightedness include:

• Headaches
• Eyestrain
• Squinting
• Difficulty seeing distant objects, such as highway signs

Diagnosis of Myopia

Patients suffering from nearsightedness often visit our eye clinic with complaints of visual discomfort and/or blurred vision. Our optometrists are able to accurately diagnose myopia through a comprehensive dilated eye examination and provide the best treatment solutions.

Treatment of Myopia

Nearsightedness can often be treated with eyeglasses, contact lenses or eye surgery.

• Eyeglasses - This is the simplest and safest way to correct myopia. Our optometrists can prescribe lenses that will correct the problem and help restore optimum vision.
• Contact lenses - Contact lenses can provide clearer vision, wider field of vision and greater comfort.
• Refractive surgery - Aims to permanently change the shape of the cornea, improving refractive vision permanently. The different types of refractive surgeries and your candidacy should be discussed with an eye care professional.