Myopia

Myopia (nearsightedness) is a refractive error (eye does not refract/focus light properly) whereas light enters the eye and focuses in front of the retina (light sensitive tissue of rods and cones in the back of the eye) instead of on the retina. This causes issues primarily with seeing clearly far away.⁴

Progressive myopia, also known as pathological, malignant, or degenerative myopia, is characterized by a refractive error greater than –6.00D and an axial length (length of the eye) greater than 26mm. Pathological myopia continues to progress and damage to the retina and other ocular tissues can occur.⁶

The symptoms of myopia include:

• Blurry vision, especially at a distance
• Squinting, especially at distance
• Headaches
• Nausea after near work
• Moving very close to see images clearly (IE. Sitting close to the TV, holding books very close to face)¹

Myopia is usually genetic, whereas one or both parents are also nearsighted. Patients of Asian background also have a higher risk of developing myopia.³

Myopia is diagnosed by an eye doctor with retinoscopy and/or manifest refraction. Retinoscopy is an objective test performed with a retinoscope, whereas an eye doctor shines a light into the eye and uses lenses to determine a glasses prescription by how the light moves within the pupil. Manifest refraction is a subjective measure of determining a patient’s prescription by giving a patient choices between different lenses, whereas the patient chooses based on clarity.

Glasses and contact lenses: refocus light rays entering the eye, so that they focus on the retina⁵

Ortho-keratology (Ortho-k): rigid gas permeable (RGP, hard contact lens) worn at night time to reshape the cornea.²

Refractive surgery: most commonly LASIK or PRK, used to reshape the cornea⁵

It is important to maintain recommended follow-ups and dilated eye exams with an eye care provider to monitor the progression of myopia and retinal integrity. If progression of myopia continues, it can increase the risk of developing of cataracts and glaucoma. Also, as the eye lengthens, due to myopia, the retina becomes stretched, increasing the risk of retinal thinning, holes, tears, and detachment.³

1. https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/m/myopia
2. https://aapos.org/glossary/treatment-for-progressive-myopia
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6170055/
4. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/myopia-nearsightedness
5. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/myopia-nearsightedness-treatment
6. https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/monitor-progressive-myopia