According to the World Health Organization, myopia is the leading vision condition in the world due to its association with retinal disease, cataracts and glaucoma. Myopic people experience difficulty seeing objects at a distance.
Today, Dr. Joel H. McGahen OD, your local optometrist, tackles the importance of myopia control.
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is one of the most common refractive errors alongside hyperopia and astigmatism. It occurs when the cornea and the lens focus at a distance shorter than the eye’s physical axial length. The eye condition can also develop when the cornea is too curved or lens are very thick.
A comprehensive eye exam can diagnose myopia. During the exam, your eye doctor will use dilating eye drops for a detailed examination of the optic nerve and retina.
Mildly myopic patients are at higher risk of macula myopathy. It’s a condition that leads to irreversible loss of sharp vision. They are two times more likely to develop a posterior subcapsular cataract, which is a clouding of part of the crystalline lens capsule. Also, they have triple the risk of experiencing a retinal detachment.
Moderate myopia increases the risk of retinal detachment and macular retinopathy by more than nine times. Further, people with severe myopia are ten-times more likely to experience glaucoma and over three times more likely to have cataracts.
Myopia control is important in children since their eyes change significantly during their developmental years. It aims to keep prescriptions low to protect children’s eyes for the future and reduce the risk of eye diseases later in life. Different methods are involved in myopia control, including orthokeratology, atropine drops and multifocal contact lenses or glasses.
Comprehensive eye exams can help in the early detection and treatment of vision conditions in children. Visit Dr. Joel H. McGahen OD for your family’s eye care needs. We offer eye examinations, eyeglasses, contact lenses and more. Call us at (717) 609-4443 or complete our online form to schedule an appointment. We assist patients in Chambersburg, PA.