Myopia

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Myopia

  • Affects 1/4 of the population, a figure that is rising.
  • Can be corrected using two techniques: laser and intraocular lenses.
  • Myopia over 8 dioptres implies a risk of glaucoma and detached retina.

What is Myopia?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a refractive error in visual focusing with the following characteristics:

  • Images are focused in front of the retina, making long-distance vision difficult.
  • Myopia typically develops during childhood and stabilizes around the age of 20.
  • High myopia (greater than 8 dioptres) involves serious visual risks, such as glaucoma and retinal detachment.

What Causes Myopia?

Myopia occurs when:

  • The eyeball is elongated or the cornea is more curved than normal.
  • A family history of myopia increases the likelihood of developing the condition.

How Can It Be Prevented?

While myopia cannot be prevented, regular eye exams, especially for children, can help detect it early and allow for early intervention.

Symptoms

A person with myopia can see close objects clearly, but distant objects appear blurred. Myopia often manifests in school-age children. Common symptoms include:

  • Difficulty seeing what the teacher writes on the blackboard.
  • Holding books very close to the eyes to read.
  • Sitting close to the television.
  • Squinting to make distant objects appear sharper.
  • As myopia progresses during growth, frequent adjustments to glasses or contact lenses are necessary.

Associated Treatments

Myopia can be corrected using:

  • Glasses or contact lenses.
  • For those who prefer not to wear corrective eyewear, refractive surgery is an option.
Surgical Treatments
  • Laser refractive surgery (e.g., Lasik) is commonly used, where a laser reshapes the cornea's surface or internal layers.
  • Intrastromal corneal rings are sometimes used in certain cases.
  • For high myopia or if Lasik is contraindicated, the best option is the implantation of phakic intraocular lenses (implanted between the cornea and crystalline lens).

Surgery is typically not recommended before the age of 20 when myopia tends to stabilize.

Success Factors in Surgery

Approximately 80% of surgery success depends on:

  • Proper diagnosis.
  • Selecting the most appropriate surgical technique.
Surgical Options Include:
  • Intrastromal corneal rings.
  • Refractive surgery with intraocular lenses.
  • Laser refractive surgery.
  • Femtosecond laser.