Statistics show nearsightedness or myopia affects nearly 40 percent of people living in the US. In fact, Myopia has become one of the most typical vision disorders in the world. Within the next 40 years, that number is said to grow by another 10 percent. But optometrists also point out that the progression of myopia, especially in children, can be slowed, if you choose the right vision aids.
When it comes to eye contacts leawood ks optometrists say they can help with adolescent myopia. Studies conclude that after three years, the course of myopia slowed in children who wore contact lens.
What Is Myopia and How to Correct It?
People with myopic lens have a visual defect, and can see up close, but from afar, things become increasingly blurred. It’s a defect of the spherical refraction of the retina. The more distant an object is, the more blurred it appears on the retina of the eye in myopia, because it is projected further and further away from the retina. There are three main causes of myopia;
- Excessive length of the eyeball. One of the most frequent causes
- Curvature of the cornea or of the crystalline
- Lens greater than the norm
Usually optometrists recommend the use of prescription glasses or contact lenses for a myopia of more than -0.25 diopters. The diopters measure vision: a person with myopia with -2.00 diopters of an eye will not be able to focus on a distant object about two feet. Up to -3.00 diopters myopia is considered mild, from -3.00 to -6.00 moderate, while over is considered high.
Mild myopia generally does not increase the risk of having eye health problems. However, other forms of myopia, like “high” can be associated with serious side effects for vision. When this occurs, in cases of high or very high myopia, the term “degenerative myopia” is often used.
Frequently, adults with high myopia started being shortsighted when they were small children, and their myopia progressed year after year. Thus, it’s very important for children to have yearly eye exams and catch any vision problems early. And as for adults, Myopia – even mild and moderate – has been associated with an increased prevalence of glaucoma, so it’s just as important for adults to see an optometrist for regular eye exams.
The Growing Disorder of Myopia
Myopia can have many causes. It may be transient, congenital, developmental, traumatic, age-related or dependent on the intake of certain drugs. To correct it, you can wear contact lenses or glasses, but you can also use corrective techniques for the eye, like laser surgery that modifies the curvature of the cornea.
However, contact lenses have proven to the best cure for myopia. Myopia tends to progressively worsen during childhood, adolescence and even into adulthood. But studies show that contact lenses are able to alter the way light is concentrated in the peripheral retina and can induce changes in growth that help reshape the eye in the way desired. The best thing you can do to help slow down the progression of any vision abnormality is to have regular eye exams, so doctors can stay abreast of any issues as well as control how much your eyes are changing and at what speed.
