Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common eye condition in the Philippines. A study shows a steady increase in myopia prevalence in the country each decade. It also revealed that almost 40 percent of the overall population is myopic.
People with myopia see close objects clearly while distant objects appear blurry. Myopia is a refractive eye condition wherein the eyeball is elongated or the cornea is excessively curved. When this happens, light is forced to focus in front of the cornea instead of directly on it. This leads to squinting, headaches, eye strain, and nearsightedness or the need to hold objects close to the eye.
Myopia symptoms typically worsen during childhood and adolescence. They usually stabilize during early adulthood. There are primary contributing factors that affect the onset and worsening of this eye condition.
Genetics
One of the most common causes of myopia is genetics. You may notice that nearsightedness often runs in families. The risk of developing myopia is higher if one parent is nearsighted. The risk is even higher when both parents have the condition.
Physical Eye Structure
Myopia is also the direct result of the eyes’ physical structure. Having an eyeball that is too long from front to back causes nearsightedness. A steeped cornea curvature is also a factor that leads to this eye condition.
Environmental Factors
Aside from genetics and eye structure, lifestyle is also among the factors that cause the development and progression of myopia. These include environmental factors such as:
Limited outdoor time
Prolonged close-distance activities
Intense educational demand
Insufficient exposure to natural lighting
Increased exposure to air pollution
Urban environment
Improper myopia correction
Myopia may be a prevalent condition, but it can be managed. Here are the essential tips that will prevent its occurrence and progression
Indoor activities must be limited. Make it a point to at least spend 2 hours in outdoor light every day.
Discipline and strict compliance are key to effective management of myopia. The 20-20-20 rule stresses the importance of looking at an object at a distance of 20 feet for 20 seconds, and every 20 minutes.
Regular eye check-ups are essential for people with myopia. These will ensure that the eye condition is properly monitored to prevent its worsening.
Manage myopia with the help of a licensed eye doctor who can provide specialized treatments for your specific conditions. An eye specialist will provide the best treatment and management plan for people with myopia.
Various myopia treatment options can be used to manage and correct nearsightedness.
Use of corrective lenses (glasses, contacts)
Myopia management techniques aimed at correcting light focus on the retina
Low-dosage atropine drops
Ortho-K
Multifocal lenses
Refractive surgery
LASIK eye surgery – a laser surgery done to reshape the cornea
PRK eye surgery – also known as Photorefractive Keratectomy works the same as LASIK eye surgery, but instead of creating a flap, it removes the cornea’s surface layer.
ICL eye surgery – Implantable Collamer Lens is an alternative procedure for those who are not suited for a laser eye surgery.
SMILE – is a minimally invasive procedure that stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction.
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