From the Guidelines
Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is a vision condition where people can see objects clearly up close but have difficulty focusing on distant objects, typically developing during childhood and worsening until early adulthood, with increased risk of pathologic ocular changes over time 1.
Definition and Causes
Myopia occurs because the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. People with myopia typically experience blurry distance vision, eye strain, headaches, and may squint to see clearly. The condition can be easily corrected with prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery like LASIK.
Risk Factors and Prevention
The prevalence of myopia is increasing in the United States and other industrialized societies, with increased time spent outdoors appearing to be protective against myopia in children 1. Increased levels of near work are less of a risk factor than previously believed.
- Increased outdoor time and low-concentration atropine have been shown to reduce the likelihood of myopia onset 1.
- Antimuscarinic eyedrops, multifocal spectacles and contact lenses, and overnight orthokeratology have been shown to be variably effective in some populations for myopia control, that is, to reduce the progression of myopia in school age children 1.
Treatment and Management
Regular eye examinations are important for people with myopia to monitor changes in vision and update prescriptions as needed. Without correction, myopia can impact daily activities like driving, watching television, or recognizing faces from a distance.
- Daily disposable contact lenses are the safest lenses with the lowest rate of complications associated with soft contact lens wear 1.
- Hydrogen peroxide systems are superior to multipurpose solutions for reducing the likelihood of infections or inflammatory complications 1.
Public Health Impact
The importance of reducing the global burden of myopia by delaying the onset of myopia and reducing myopic progression in children warrants attention from clinicians, public health officials, agencies, and industry 1. Globally, 10 million individuals are estimated to have visual impairment from myopic macular degeneration, and 3.3 million of them are blind, with these numbers estimated to grow to 55.7 million people with visual impairment and 18.5 million individuals with blindness by 2050 unless new strategies to control myopia are implemented 1.
From the Research
Definition of Myopia
- Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a refractive error where close objects are seen clearly but distant objects appear blurred.
- It occurs when the shape of the cornea or lens is not perfect, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it 2, 3, 4, 5.
Causes and Risk Factors
- High myopia is a significant risk factor for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD), with an estimated occurrence rate of 2.2% in the myopic population compared to 0.1% in the emmetropic population 2.
- Refractive surgery, such as LASIK or PRK, can increase the risk of RD in myopic patients, although the overall risk is still relatively low 2, 3.
- Other risk factors for myopia include genetics, nearsighted activities, and certain medical conditions 4, 5.
Treatment and Complications
- Refractive surgery, such as LASIK or PRK, can be an effective treatment for myopia, but it is not without risks and complications 2, 3.
- Retinal detachment is a potential complication of myopia and refractive surgery, and it requires prompt treatment to prevent vision loss 2, 4, 5.
- Other complications of myopia and refractive surgery include dry eye, visual disturbances, and cataracts 3, 4.
Patient Education and Awareness
- Patient education and awareness are crucial in preventing and detecting myopia and its complications, such as retinal detachment 5.
- Patients with a history of LASIK or PRK for myopia should be informed about the potential risks and complications, and they should be encouraged to seek regular eye exams to monitor their eye health 2, 3, 5.