MYOPIA
(my-O-pee-ah) or NEARSIGHTEDNESS
The medical
term for nearsightedness is myopia. Without proper visual correction, distance
vision is blurry and out of focus. Close-range vision, however, is generally
clear without correction, thus the term "NEAR"-sighted. Nearsightedness
is caused by an eye that is naturally too strong in refractive power and/or an
eye that is deeper or larger in size than average.
Since a nearsighted eye requires less power to see clearly, the eyes'
natural (power-rich) focusing ability cannot help correct this troublesome
condition. Conventional methods of
correcting nearsightedness include prescription eyewear and/or contact lenses.
In extreme cases, refractive surgery and a non- surgical procedure called
orthokeratology may be considered. Progression
of myopia is due to genetic and functional factors. Just as eye color is
inherited, so may be the amount of myopia.
This GENETIC cause of myopia will usually progress until about eighteen
years of age, remain fairly stable in our twenties and thirties and generally
decrease beyond our forties. FUNCTIONAL
myopia, however, can develop and contribute to nearsightedness at any age as a
stress response to close-range tasks such as reading, computer use, etc.
For more information on myopia follow this link Myopia
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