Medically reviewed by Kate McClure, OD, MS, FAAO
Myopia, also commonly referred to as nearsightedness, is when the eye grows too long from front to back, making it harder to focus on things that are far away.1 For example, a person with myopia may be able to read a book just fine, but may struggle to read a street sign. While blurry distance vision is the most well-known symptom of myopia, it’s important to note that myopia also increases the chances of eye complications later in life. That’s because the lengthening of the eye means more strain on delicate structures like the retina (the part of the eye that turns light into what you see). Myopia is also very common, and only becoming more common by the day.
If you’re looking for a definitive cause of myopia, you won’t currently find one, because doctors and scientists still aren’t completely sure. They currently believe it comes down to a combination of two main factors:
Genetic factors play a role in myopia development, but just because your parents have it doesn’t mean you’ll have it too.
Lifestyle factors like increased near work (reading, playing video games) and decreased time outdoors have also been implicated as risk factors. These lifestyle changes likely disrupt the eye’s normal growth signals, causing the eye to grow longer than it should. Further studies are needed to understand the exact processes and signals that the eye uses to drive the growth of the eye.
Without a comprehensive eye exam, myopia is often discovered when a child struggles to see distant objects clearly, like the board in school. While only a comprehensive eye exam can determine if you are myopic (and at what level), some common symptoms of uncorrected myopia include:
Things that aren’t up close may look blurry and hard to distinguish. This is why a telltale sign of myopia is squinting to see objects that aren’t up close.
Since things that aren’t very close by are so blurry, it can become hard to judge exactly how far away things are, which can make even simple things like walking around more dangerous.
People with uncorrected myopia may have to squint to be able to see many things in their everyday life, like street signs and the faces of those around them. This squinting and difficulty focusing can cause headaches and feelings of eye strain.
The earlier a child develops myopia, the greater the likelihood of developing higher levels of myopia. This is because the eye grows more rapidly in younger children and will likely progress for a greater number of years. Why is this important? Because every change in eyesight matters. While high levels of myopia tend to increase the risk of sight threatening complications later in adulthood, there is no safe level of myopia.1 Even lower levels of myopia can be associated with an increased risk of eye issues.1 Every diopter (for example, a change in prescription from -2D to -3D) increase in myopia raises the risk of myopic macular degeneration, a sight threatening eye disease, by 67%.5
Every child should be monitored for myopia from an early age, with annual comprehensive eye exams starting by the age of 5.6,7 Once a child develops myopia, it’s irreversible and very likely to worsen as they grow. The good news is, it’s possible to slow excessive eye growth with certain treatments and lifestyle changes. Together, these treatments for myopia are called myopia management and depending on the unique needs of your child’s eyes, your eye doctor may recommend:
This treatment uses customized lenses to manage myopia while your child sleeps. They work by gently reshaping the cornea at night so that the child can experience clear vision during the day, usually without the need for additional vision correction.
Traditional eyeglasses and contact lenses can alleviate blurry vision. It’s important to note that as the child’s myopia progresses, the continuous eye growth can result in the need for higher and higher prescriptions.8
Low-dose atropine has been show to slow the progression of myopia in children and teens.†
These contacts are worn during the day, and have special optics that both help correct vision and manage myopia.
Research shows that spending at least two hours per day outdoors can help reduce myopia onset or slow its progression.9
Reducing the amount of time spent on near work (e.g. reading, tablets) outside of school can help reduce myopia onset.10
Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds when doing near work activities like reading, screentime, or homework.11
The eye growth that causes myopia is irreversible, but adults with myopia have a number of options to correct their blurry vision. Some of the most common myopia treatment options include:
While these treatments help correct the nearsightedness of myopia, those with myopia should plan on seeing their eye doctor annually because of the increased risk of other eye complications.
Consult your eye care professional for more information. Johnson & Johnson does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.
*Free trial contact lenses available only from participating eye care professionals. Exam and fitting fees not included.
References
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