11/20/2020
🤔 What is myopia? (ie nearsightedness)
▪️When the optics of the eye can focus near (but not faraway) objects. Whereas hyperopia is often associated with a "shorter" eye, myopia is often due to a deeper eye (longer axial length).
▪️Myopia shows up in your prescription as a minus number under "sphere"
▪️Like other refractive errors, myopia can be corrected with glasses, contacts and refractive surgery (like LASIK)
▪️Folks who are highly myopic are more at risk for retinal detachment. If you're noticing a dramatic sudden change in your vision, seeing flashes of light or new floaters, distortion or curtains over your vision, see an optometrist, ophthalmologist or ER doctor right away. Caught early, the intervention is milder with a better prognos. Particularly check for retinal detachment in case of head trauma. Check one eye at a time for these changes.
▪️Myopia progression is arguably faster during the adolescent years, when young adults are getting taller and the eye is lengthening. Myopia control may be possible during these years, using specialized contacts.
▪️Studies show that extensive uninterrupted near work *at any age* can also cause advances in myopia. So take visual breaks! We call it the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Work near a window or outdoors so you can be regularly interrupted 😊
