{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/what-is-myopia-short-sightedness\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.eyecliniclondon.com\/blog\/what-is-myopia-short-sightedness\/","headline":"What Is Myopia? (Short-Sightedness)","name":"What Is Myopia? (Short-Sightedness)","description":"Myopia, also known as near-sightedness or short-sightedness, is a common vision condition that affects up to 1 in 3 people in the UK. If you struggle to see distant objects such as a vehicle\u2019s license plate but can easily read them when you are up close, then there is a high chance that you have Myopia. The condition can occur at any stage during your life. The condition can start anywhere from 6 to 14 years old for children. 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If you struggle to see distant objects such as a vehicle\u2019s license plate but can easily read them when you are up close, then there is a high chance that you have Myopia. The condition can occur at any stage during your life. The condition can start anywhere from 6 to 14 years old for children. If Myopia does not develop when you are a child, it can still occur once you are an adult.Myopia causesThe cause of Myopia all comes down to the structure of your eye. It occurs when the protective outer layer of your eye (the cornea) is too curved, which makes it harder for you to focus on the light that enters your eye. Instead of focusing in front of the retina, they focus on the top of it. As a result, you will experience blurred vision. Myopia can also occur when your eyeball is too long. Although the exact cause of Myopia is not clear, many eye experts believe it comes down to a mix of environmental and hereditary factors.Types of myopiaThere are different types of Myopia that people can experience in their lifetime. Typically, most cases of Myopia are mild, and they can be easily controlled with the correct medical guidance. However, there are instances where more severe disorders can develop. These are High Myopia and Degenerative Myopia.High MyopiaThis is a rare inherited type of high-degree near-sightedness. This commonly occurs in children. The eyeballs grow longer than they should, and the cornea is too steep. It can progressively worsen between the ages of 20 to 30 years old. If left untreated, this condition can lead to severe medical issues such as blindness.Degenerative MyopiaThis is a rare but severe form of Myopia. It occurs in early childhood and can damage the retina, which is a leading cause of legal blindness.Myopia symptomsLike all medical conditions, Myopia can come with a list of symptoms, including the following:Headaches caused by eye strainBlurred vision when looking at distant objectsThe need to squint or partially close your eyes to see clearlyDifficult to see at night (particularly when driving)Myopia is a condition that is often detected during childhood. If your child is experiencing Myopia, they may show the following symptoms:Excessive blinkingPersistent squintingRubbing of eyes frequentlyA clear unawareness of distant objectsThe need to sit closer to a screenMyopia vs HypermetropiaHypermetropia, also known as Hyperopia or long-sightedness, is another common vision condition. It differs from Myopia as this condition occurs in people who have far-sightedness. Instead of having difficulty seeing things from a distance, you have difficulty seeing things up close. Unlike Myopia, with Hypermetropia, the eyeball is too short, and the lens is not curved as well as it needs to be. This means that objects up close will struggle to focus correctly. The light that enters your eye focuses on the point beyond the retina instead of on top of the retina like Myopia.Myopia testTo successfully diagnose Myopia, you will need to undergo an eye exam. An optometrist will take the test. Your exam may include a range of different tests to help you detect possible distant vision problems. Your optometrist may need to measure the pressure inside your eyes alongside a visual acuity test. During this test, you will be asked to read from a chart with multiple rows of letters that gradually get smaller in size.Your optometrist will determine what tests you need to undergo. If you feel like you, or someone close to you, could be experiencing this condition, it is important that you book an eye test at your nearest convenience. The quicker you can get a diagnosis, the faster you can work to treat it.Myopia treatmentMost mild cases of Myopia can be treated with prescription glasses or contact lenses. These non-surgical treatments can improve your vision by helping light focus onto the back of your eye correctly. This will help distant objects seem less blurry. There are also surgical treatments that provide a much more permanent solution to Myopia, such as PRK and LASIK eye surgery.PRK & LASIK eye surgeryThere are two types of eye surgery that can help you treat Myopia:PRKThis is one of the original forms of laser eye surgery. It is a quick and pain-free procedure that involves using a laser to reshape the cornea. It helps light enter your eye correctly and focus on the retina, providing clearer vision. You will no longer need to rely on glasses after this treatment.LASIKYou may be familiar with LASIK as it is amongst the most popular forms of laser eye surgery. It is a quick treatment that involves reshaping the deeper layers of the cornea to provide a more precise and sharper vision.Book an eye test todayIf you feel like you could be experiencing Myopia, it is important to book an eye test at your nearest convenience. Here at Eye Clinic London, we offer a range of treatments for Myopia, such as PRK and LASIK eye surgery. We are proud to say that we have helped many patients better their sight over the years."}