Myopia refers to a progressive eye disorder that allows patients to see near objects clearly, whereas distant view becomes blurry. It is a pretty common vision disease as almost one in two people suffers from Myopia.

People with Myopia have eyes that are comparatively longer from front to back. In some cases, the cornea has too much of a steep curve. Nearsightedness is a severe condition, especially in children, and can lead to a list of other severe diseases, including blindness, unless treated early.

Here, we discuss in-depth what inability to control Myopia can lead to:

What Causes Myopia?

Various genetic and environmental factors may cause Myopia. Let’s discuss these in-depth down below;

Abnormal Growth of the Eye

Typically, Myopia occurs because the cornea or lens is too curved. As a result, the light fails to focus on the retina. Such cases of Myopia are not progressive, and you can correct them with the help of contact lenses and conventional glasses.

Another common problem that leads to Myopia is elongation in the eye. Here the patients’ lens and cornea are not shaped properly. Again, the light, instead of focusing on the retina, ends up focusing in front of it. Unfortunately, this type of Myopia is progressive and can get worse with time.

Genetics

In most cases, Myopia is hereditary. In fact, research reveals that the risk of Myopia goes up with the number of myopic parents. The results show that;

• The prevalence of Myopia is 7.6% for non-myopic parents
• Risk is 14.9% if only one parent is myopic
• The developmental risk rate is 43.6% if both parents are myopic

Environmental Factors

Research shows that the prevalence of Myopia has risen by 40% over the last 30 years. At the same time, in East Asia, at least 75% of the population is myopic. This dramatic increase in cases of Myopia suggests that Myopia may be increasing due to environmental causes.

These include:

• Limited exposure to the sun
• A lot of close work including reading, typing, or lab work
• Increased screen time

What Happens if Myopia is not Controlled?

Research reveals that people who have moderate Myopia have a greater chance of developing severe eye disorders, including:

• Double risk of developing glaucoma
• Triple risk of getting cataracts
• High chances of a detached retina
• Risk of macular degeneration

Patients with high Myopia have a higher chance of developing the following disorders;

• Triple risks developing glaucoma
• Five times the risk of developing cataracts
• 21 times the risk of developing a detached retina
• 40 times the risk of developing macular degeneration

To Sum it Up

Myopia control includes various treatments that can help slow down the progression of this eye disorder. These treatments consist ofMiSight contact lenses, special glasses lenses, and multifocal contact lenses.

Although Myopia is incurable, there are ways to reduce its severity. Visit a doctor immediately if you think your child has Myopia.

Sources

https://www.johnoconnor.co.nz/what-is-myopia/

https://drbleonard.com/dangers-of-untreated-myopia/

https://islandeyecare.ns.ca/can-myopia-lead-to-blindness/

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/myopia-control-in-children