Myopia
Myopia is the medical term for nearsightedness – a refractive disorder that causes objects at a distance to be blurry, while objects up close are clear. Myopia is one of the most common refractive errors, affecting nearly 30% of all Americans.
Although myopia usually develops throughout adolescence and progresses until the age of 20, it can also develop in older adults because of visual stress – such as computer work or reading. Medical conditions like diabetes can also contribute to myopia.
What Causes Myopia?
Your eye should ideally be shaped like a sphere in order for the light to focus correctly. If you have myopia, your eye is longer or your cornea is too steep. This shape prevents light from focusing directly on your retina; instead, it converges at a point in front of your retina.
Besides blurry distance vision, other symptoms of myopia can include:
- Headaches
- Eyestrain
- Frequent squinting
Myopia Treatment
Glasses and contact lenses are the most common methods of correcting myopia. For millions of people, wearing glasses or contacts every day is second nature.
However, eyewear can interfere with certain jobs, hobbies, and active lifestyles, making it inconvenient for many of our patients. Laser eye surgery can permanently correct myopia, eliminating (or significantly reducing) your dependence on eyewear. Myopia may be surgically treated with LASIK, PRK, or Visian ICL by reshaping the surface of your cornea.
If you have further questions about myopia, please contact Brooks Eye Associates today or call (972) 736-9347 to schedule an appointment. We serve patients in North Texas, including Plano, Frisco, and Dallas.
