Myopia — a 21st Century Public Health Issue
A quote from Paulo Coelho:
Your eyes show the strength of your soul.
Caring for Your Eyes Is Essential
I began writing on Medium this summer and have been enjoying the experience. As I was thinking about the next topic I want to publish on Medium, I recalled an issue with my eyes that developed during the pandemic and was not present before. Before turning 18, my eyesight was sharp and healthy. When COVID-19 caused global disruption, I started spending a lot of time behind the screens, not caring about the distance between my eyes and screens, the harmful blue light, and the unhealthy habit of using my phone late at night. Then I realized I was having trouble reading the text on the TV. I started squinting which is a symptom of myopia. I could not recognize the people in the distance. The stars appeared blurry and with many other beautiful things.
I use glasses now and am more aware of my eye health and I encourage you to adopt certain preventative habits to protect your eyes.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia, also known as near-sightedness, is a very common vision disorder that is usually diagnosed before age 20. The name originates from the Greek term “muopia,” which means “close to the eyes.”
Myopia can happen due to the eyeball being too long or the cornea having excessive curvature, causing the light to come into focus before it reaches the retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye), or with another explanation, It happens when the shape of the eye makes light focus in front of the retina, instead of on it. As a result, the images of distant objects are not properly formed on the retina, leading to blurred vision. You can see objects that are near well but have trouble viewing far objects, such as whiteboards in classrooms or road signs.
Myopia is a minor nuisance that can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. But in rare cases, a progressive type called Degenerative Myopia develops that can be very serious and is a leading cause of legal blindness and affects only about 2% of the population.
It’s also possible for adults to be diagnosed with myopia. When this happens, it’s usually due to visual stress or a disease like diabetes or cataracts.
Visual stress can be caused by spending too much time doing up-close activities, such as reading or doing computer work. Eye experts believe your focusing muscles may get stuck in “near gear” from overusing them this way.
Additionally, taking regular breaks from close-up work and practicing good eye hygiene, such as avoiding rubbing your eyes and washing your hands regularly, can also help maintain healthy eyes.
Myopia has become a major public health concern due to its increased incidence across the globe. Almost half of the world’s population is projected to be myopic by the year 2050 unless myopia control strategies are implemented.
Causes — Symptoms — Treatments
Causes:
Myopia is believed to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Here are a few factors that contribute to the development of myopia:
- Genetics: If your parents or close family members have myopia, you are more likely to develop it. There is a genetic component to myopia, suggesting that it can run in families.
- Environmental Factors: Certain environmental factors can increase the risk of myopia. Lack of outdoor activities, spending too much time focusing on reading, using computers, smartphones, and other screens, can strain the eyes and contribute to the development of myopia, especially in children and adolescents. This is particularly relevant in the digital age.
- Refractive Error Changes: The shape of the eye can change over time, especially during growth spurts in childhood and adolescence, and can lead to the development of myopia.
Symptoms:
What Are The Symptoms of Myopia?
The most common symptoms of Myopia are:
- Trouble seeing things that are far away
- Needing to squint to see clearly
- Eye strain (when your eyes feel tired or sore)
Treatments:
How Is Myopia Treated?
Several treatments are available for myopia, ranging from corrective lenses to more advanced interventions aimed at slowing its progression. Here are some common myopia treatments:
- Eyeglasses: Prescription eyeglasses with concave lenses are the simplest and most common way to correct myopia. By focusing light directly onto the retina, these lenses enable clear vision of distant objects.
- Contact Lenses: Some people prefer contact lenses for cosmetic reasons or because they offer a wider field of view. However, contact lenses require proper hygiene and maintenance.
- Refractive Surgery: Surgical procedures can permanently reshape the cornea to correct myopia. Common refractive surgeries include:
- LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis): A laser is used to reshape the cornea to change its focusing power.
- PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): Similar to LASIK, but the laser is applied directly to the surface of the cornea.
- SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction): A newer procedure that removes a small piece of corneal tissue to reshape it.
4. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): This treatment involves wearing specially designed gas-permeable contact lenses overnight. The lenses reshape the cornea temporarily, allowing clear vision during the day without needing glasses or contacts. Ortho-K is primarily used to slow the progression of myopia in children.
5. Atropine Eye Drops: Low-dose atropine eye drops can be used to slow down the progression of myopia in children. These drops dilate the pupils and relax the focusing mechanism of the eye, which can help reduce the elongation of the eyeball that leads to myopia progression.
6. Multifocal Lenses: Multifocal contact lenses or eyeglasses have different prescriptions in different zones of the lens. They can help individuals see clearly at different distances, which might slow down the progression of myopia in some cases.
7. Behavioral Changes: Encouraging outdoor activities and reducing the amount of close-up work can help mitigate myopia progression, especially in children.
Regular eye exams are essential to monitor the progression of myopia and determine the most appropriate treatment plan.
Historical Contexts of Myopia
The concept of myopia originated with Aristotle (350 BC), who used for the first time the word μύώψς (muoops), derivated from μύειν (muein, to close) and ωψ (oops, the eye).
Aristotle linked bulging eyes, frequent blinking, squeezing of the eyelids, close reading, and micrography. Aristotle thought that eyes deeply located in the head had better distant vision than protruding eyes. Protruding eyes could not collect well the ether movements coming from objects to the eye because they lacked the protection of the upper orbital ridge, and this could be improved by looking at distant objects through a hollow pipe.
The symptoms of hyperopia (far-sightedness) and presbyopia ( age-related farsightedness) were known shortly after Aristotle’s time.
It is easy to overlook how fortunate we are to see the beauties of this universe. I hope this article reminds you to be mindful of how you use your eyes and be grateful for them.
Wishing you all the best, Take care.
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