It is usual for people’s vision to deteriorate as they age. This can result from the onset of various eye disorders, the growth of cataracts, or the progression of pre-existing eye ailments. Myopia is one of these eye disorders.
We’ll talk about myopia, how it can affect you, and how your age affects myopia. Modern optometry provides numerous options for treating myopia as you age. Getting routine eye exams every year is the greatest approach to detecting changes in your eyesight.
Because of changes in your myopia, your prescription may alter. Eye exams provide up-to-date information on your visual acuity and screening for illnesses. So if it’s been a while since your last eye exam, do your eyes a favour and make an appointment with your eye doctor.
What exactly is myopia?
Myopia, often known as nearsightedness, is a disorder that makes it difficult to focus on distant things. Nearsighted people may see close items well, but distant objects appear hazy. In Canada, about 30% of the population suffers from myopia.
Myopia develops when the eyeball is excessively lengthy, or the cornea is too curvy. This alters how light enters the eye and refracts the retina. The nearsighted eye focuses light in front of the retina, resulting in fuzzy images. An unusually shaped eye causes this refractive defect.
How Can I Tell If I Have Myopia?
Myopia is characterised mostly by trouble focusing on distant objects. For example, you may be nearsighted if you have difficulty seeing your television or focusing on a whiteboard at school or work. Other markers include difficulty recognising persons at a distance and difficulty reading street signs while driving.
Even if you have been diagnosed with myopia and are wearing glasses, distant objects might get blurry over time as your eye changes. During your yearly eye exam, your optometrist will check your visual acuity and determine if you have myopia.
Other symptoms that may indicate myopia include:
Headaches
Eyes that are tired or aching
Squinting all the time
Myopia Risk Factors
Myopia is frequently hereditary. If one of your parents has myopia, you are considerably more likely to have this refractive problem. Some medical issues, including diabetes, might also raise the likelihood of nearsightedness.
Some research has discovered a link between near labour and myopia. Near work refers to tasks that need near visual focus for an extended period, such as computer use. Understanding digital eye strain and how to control it may assist your eyes in adapting to modern digital demands.
Myopia and Aging
Myopia is usually diagnosed between the ages of eight and twelve. Changes in prescription frequently slow down around the age of 20, when our eyes finish growing. Many people do not suffer an increase in myopia when they enter their twenties, but a diagnosis as a youngster is usually permanent.
It is uncommon for myopia to worsen during your early twenties. There are, however, exceptions. This can be caused by continual eye elongation, visual stress from close work, or other environmental variables. However, as an adult, most people with nearsightedness can anticipate it to stabilise.
In conclusion
Many of us will be diagnosed with myopia as children or teenagers. The severity of nearsightedness can vary greatly until the age of 20 when most people’s vision stabilises. There are few outliers, but there are also diverse approaches to managing myopia at different ages. Correctly treating a refractive mistake requires the assistance of an optometrist who can provide an accurate, up-to-date prescription. Schedule your next eye check up to ensure that your myopia is not worsening and that you see as clearly as possible.