Myopia is a common cause of blurry vision for many people worldwide. It belongs to a group of eye conditions known as refractive errors.
Myopia is also known as nearsightedness. For those with myopia, objects close to the eye appear in focus, but distant objects can be blurry.
While they can make day-to-day tasks difficult, myopia and other refractive errors are relatively easy to treat. Keep reading to learn who myopia affects!
What Causes Myopia?
Myopia is often caused by a cornea that is too steep or an eye that is too long. These eye shapes can cause the light that enters the eye to not fall on the retina.
An eye with a regular shape allows light to focus directly on the retina, producing a clear image. Myopia is typically diagnosed between the ages of eight and twelve years old.
It can often worsen with age and, in some cases, significantly impact your quality of life. If you are suffering from nearsightedness, you may experience eyestrain, headaches, and excessive squinting as you try to clear your vision.
Diagnosing Myopia
Your eye doctor at Stahl Eyecare Experts can diagnose myopia during a comprehensive eye exam. During this visit, your eyes will be examined and tested thoroughly.
Myopia is often detected through a test called a refraction. During refraction, your doctor will have you look through multiple lenses and choose which one is clearest to you.
This test helps determine what kind of refractive error you have and what glasses prescription will best treat your symptoms.
Treatment
There are several ways to treat myopia. Each option has advantages and disadvantages.
Your eye doctor will work with you to determine which option works best for you. You may need to try different vision correction methods to decide which you like best.
Glasses
Many people wear prescription glasses to improve the blurry vision caused by myopia. Glasses are easy to wear and can be easily removed when needed.
Glasses counteract the discrepancy of your eye shape by refracting the light before it enters the cornea. However, some people may consider glasses to be bothersome.
It’s important to be constantly vigilant about the care of your glasses to ensure you do not damage or lose them. Glasses will also alter the physical appearance of your face.
For some people, glasses can be a fun accessory. For others, glasses can be a burden if they do not like how they look in them.
Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are a way to circumvent the cosmetic issue of glasses. They are small, flexible, soft lenses placed directly on top of your cornea and are not noticeable to others.
The downsides of contacts are that they are even more likely to be lost than glasses, and they can cause discomfort if worn too long. They also need to be frequently replaced and maintained, which costs money, time, and effort.
LASIK
Another more permanent solution to myopia is laser vision correction. LASIK is a very common choice, although it is not the only option.
Vision correction procedures are very reliable and can produce outstanding results for those who are eligible. However, not everyone is a good candidate for vision surgery.
If you think you may be interested in a procedure like LASIK, schedule a consultation with your eye doctor at Stahl Eyecare Experts.
Do you think you may be experiencing blurry vision due to myopia? Schedule an appointment at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Garden City, NY, today!
