Myopia (NEARSIGHTEDNESS): A REAL CHILDREN’S HEALTH CONCERN

Nearsightedness (myopia) is a common vision condition diagnosed during a basic eye exam. For those who are nearsighted, objects that are farther away appear blurry. Myopia is caused by genetics, as well as other environmental factors. For instance, staring at any object for too long can cause the eye to elongate — it’s this elongation that leads to myopia.

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THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNTREATED MYOPIA

We used to think getting an updated pair of glasses or new prescription in the contacts for myopia was the worst part of the problem, but research is showing that this is more than just an inconvenience – myopia is becoming a public health concern. The prevalence of myopia is dramatically increasing worldwide. Extrapolating current trends, over half of the world’s population will be myopic by 2050, and one-tenth will have high myopia.

It is clinically proven that more severe myopia leads to a significant increase in the risk of more serious eye diseases later in life. Diseases which can all lead to blindness, such as:

  • CATARACTS tend to develop sooner in nearsighted eyes.

  • Nearsighted people are 2 to 3 times more likely to get GLAUCOMA (high eye pressure).

  • Myopia increases the risk of RETINAL DETACHMENT.

Our optometrist can perform a simple examination to determine if the vision issues you’re experiencing are caused by myopia — and put a treatment plan in place that may prevent further complications associated with myopia. 

Table 1. Odds ratios of increased risk of ocular pathology with increasing levels of myopia, summarised from Flitcroft, 2012.

Table 1. Odds ratios of increased risk of ocular pathology with increasing levels of myopia, summarised from Flitcroft, 2012.

Researchers used to believe that only severely advanced cases of myopia could be blamed for patients developing severe eye diseases.  However, recent studies confirm an increase in the risk of more serious eye diseases from any amount of myopia and leading experts in the field now believe, there is no safe amount of myopia, no matter how small.

With the prevalence of refractive eye surgery, formerly myopic patients are under the false belief that they have been “cured”; the fact remains that the risk for severe eye disease like retinal detachment and glaucoma remain even if vision is clear and those genetic risk factors still remain for their children.