How to Notice the Early Signs of Nearsightedness

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One of the most common eye diseases is nearsightedness, in which there is poor vision at remote distances. To treat this pathology, a huge range of techniques has been developed and successfully applied. With a mild degree, conservative tactics help to stop the development of the disease and improve vision, and in a severe and progressive form, a surgical operation is prescribed for this condition.

Nearsightedness is an anomaly of refraction of the eye, in which light rays are focused incorrectly – not on the retina, as they should be, but in front of it (as a result, a circle of light scattering is formed, which gives ambiguity). In other words, distant objects are seen as if through a cloudy glass – the boundaries of objects are blurred.

The Symptoms of Nearsightedness

The main symptom is a marked decrease in visual acuity. The following symptoms may also indicate the progression of the pathology:

- Frequent headaches, mainly in the eye sockets.

- Flickering at a glance.

- A noticeable deterioration in vision at dusk.

The Causes of Nearsightedness

The exact cause of the development of nearsightedness has not yet been determined. As ophthalmology practice shows, the problem consists of many different factors that are difficult to relate to each other. Among them are indirectly distinguished – a large strain on the eyes, lack of fresh air, and a genetic predisposition.

The progression of the disease often occurs from childhood to 50 years.  It is at this time that the main growth of the eye occurs. The physiological causes of nearsightedness occur when the strength of the optical system does not match the length of the eye. 

Working at a computer, looking from the montitor to the keyboard repeteadtely is  damaging to your eye as well. . These movements greatly overwork the visual muscles. That's why ophthalmologists recommend taking 10-15 minute breaks every hour of PC work.

Nearsightedness most often begins to develop in preschool age, and it is very important to recognize it at the initial stages.

The Degrees of Nearsightedness

The degree of the disease depends on how much visual acuity is reduced:

- Slight - up to 3D. The contours of objects at a distance are slightly blurred, and the length of the apple increases by 1-1.5mm.

- Medium - 3.25D-6D. Vision is noticeably reduced; everything is clearly and clearly visible only at a distance of 20-30 cm. Elongation of the eye by 1-3 mm.

- High - more than 6 D. Significant deterioration in visual acuity (up to 30D and more); the length of the eyeball is increased by more than 3 mm.

Nearsightedness is also divided into the following types:

- Congenital, which is rather rare (accounts for 2% of all cases). Most of them show up during school.

- Hereditary. A form that violates the synthesis of collagen (takes part in the structure of the sclera) are inherited from parents.

- The progressive form requires increased attention and treatment – an annual eye test shows a deterioration of one or more diopters.

- True nearsightedness is caused by a feature of the structure of the eye;

- False nearsightedness is when the visual ability is deteriorating due to a violation of accommodation, while the size of the eyeball remains normal.

If you do not start treatment of nearsightedness, it can progress very quickly and cause the development of complications in the retina, strabismus, and in more difficult situations, lead to disability at working age.

To date, the use of various ophthalmic methods can achieve a significant improvement in vision due to a change in the focus of the visual system. Depending on the type and degree, the rate of progression, doctors choose several tactics for correcting nearsightedness - conservative treatment, surgery or laser correction.