Myopia affects 4 in 10 people. Here's why it happens
If you've ever found yourself driving down the highway and noticed that billboards, traffic signs or vehicles in the distance appear blurry, chances are you're experiencing some form of myopia. This is especially likely if words aren't also blurry when you're reading a book or looking at something nearby.
While experiencing any kind of blurred vision for the first time can certainly be disarming, it might bring some comfort to know that the condition has a name, that it isn't something that is usually thought to be preventable (so you don't have to beat yourself up about it), and that it is nearly always treatable.
What is myopia?
This condition is called myopia, and it's the same eye disorder that most people refer to as nearsightedness. "It is a vision condition where objects close by are seen clearly, while distant objects appear blurry," explains Inna Lazar, OD, a Connecticut-based optometrist and founder of Greenwich Eye Care.
It occurs when the eye grows too long from front to back, per The National Institutes of Health National Eye Institute. In this state, instead of focusing images on the retina (the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye), images are focused at a point in front of the retina, which is why images close up appear clear, while distant images appear blurry.
There are various degrees of the condition that are generally classified into two groups: low to modest degrees (often called "simple" or "school" myopia), and high or pathological degrees that research shows are usually associated with more worrisome and potentially blinding conditions. Though the vast majority of people experiencing myopia are in the first category, people experiencing low to modest degrees of myopia are also at higher risk of ocular diseases such as "retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic macular degeneration," explains Laura Di Meglio, OD, an instructor of ophthalmology at the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Because of this, it's wise to see an eye doctor once nearsighted symptoms first manifest in order to rule out anything more serious and to start treating the condition.
Is it rare to be nearsighted?
Another thing that may bring some peace of mind is knowing that this eye condition is very common. "It's one of the most prevalent eye disorders worldwide," says Lazar. Di Meglio adds that about 40% of the population is currently nearsighted. That number is up from about 25% in 1971, with prevalence of the condition likely to increase further still as some research shows that by the year 2050, about 52% of the population will likely be myopic.
While reasons for this rise are not fully understood, the National Eye Institute notes that environmental factors are likely at play. This may be caused by increased prolonged periods of screen time, but it is more likely associated with people (children especially) spending less time outdoors. "Insufficient exposure to outdoor light, which is believed to play a role in eye development, can further aggravate the condition," says Lazar.
Your eyes may be the problem. Does driving or grocery shopping make you anxious?
Can you fix myopia?
One of the first things people who experience myopia wonder is if the condition will ever go away on its own. Unfortunately, it will not, and the chronic condition "typically worsens over time," says Lazar.
One reason the condition doesn't improve is that normal growth can cause nearsightedness to get worse once it begins because "as we grow, our eyeballs grow as well," says Di Meglio. Additionally, "not using the prescribed corrective lenses or not updating them as needed can further lead to a rapid worsening of nearsightedness," adds Lazar.
The good news is that eyeglasses or contact lenses are usually all that is needed to treat this common eye disorder. Sometimes refractive eye surgeries are also recommended. With proper treatment, Di Meglio says people with myopia can plan to continue to experience good vision of even distant words and objects throughout their lives.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is myopia? Why 4 in 10 people are nearsighted
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