What is myopia?
More commonly known as nearsightedness, myopia is a vision condition that causes distant figures to appear blurry while items close by typically remain clear. This occurs because the eyeball has elongated and light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina instead of on the retina.
Over the years, prevalence of the condition has increased and shifted towards developing earlier in life. Currently, it is common to see signs of myopia in children as young as seven or eight. Myopia in children usually progresses, with the child’s prescription getting higher and higher. Once they reach adulthood, progression typically stops.
In adulthood, severe nearsightedness, or high myopia, puts people at higher risk for serious eye conditions, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma and cataracts, that can cause vision loss. Dr. Debbie Jones explains more.
