Nearsightedness, or Myopia, is the most common eye problem in the world, affecting nearly 22% of the population. This condition is caused when the light entering your eye focuses in front of the retina, rather than on it, and creates a distortion in your vision where far away objects appear blurry while close objects remain clear. The first question many have about Myopia is whether it is curable.
Although the search for an outright cure Myopia is ongoing, there has been a large amount of research that has shown that it is possible to control and slow its progression, especially in children and teens. Many of these treatments focus on changing how the eye focuses and manipulating the structure of the eye to reduce the strain caused by Myopia.
Preventing Myopia’s Progression
The single biggest way to slow the progression of Myopia is to catch it early. Myopia most commonly develops in young children, and progresses most rapidly during teenage years. Taking proper steps to slow its progression early can prevent the future need for thick corrective lenses, and the development of cataracts or in some cases even a detached retina. Six One Six Vision Center is the premier destination for personalized eye care in Boise, Eagle, Nampa, Meridian, and surrounding areas, and can provide eye exams which are extremely important for catching Myopia early on.
Treatment for Myopia
There are currently many different types of treatments available for Myopia. Here are just a few of the most promising:
- Atropine Eye Drops – These drops relax the eye’s focusing mechanism and has been found to reduce the progression of Myopia.
- Multifocal Contact Lenses – Have different powers of the lens to correct nearsightedness, have shown improvement over normal contact lenses in reducing myopia progression.
- Orthokeratology – Contact lenses are worn at night that temporarily correct nearsightedness so contacts and corrective lenses (glasses) are not needed during the day. This treatment also has shown a reduction in severity of Myopia in later years.
- Multifocal Eyeglasses – Show slight improvement in myopia progression over single vision glasses.
While these are all effective ways to prevent the progression of Myopia, there is still much research going on to find a cure for this condition. For now, regular eye exams and available treatment options will provide a substantial improvement in the short and long term.
