Does Myopia Get Worse with Age?

Do you find it difficult to see distant objects but have no problem reading a book up close? If so, you could suffer from myopia. Myopia or nearsightedness is a common eye condition that affects people of all ages. In most cases, myopia is treated using eyeglasses or contacts. In some cases, it can be treated with eye surgery.

 

Causes of Myopia

While it is not clear what causes myopia, it has been attributed to genetics and environmental factors. Myopia occurs due to the structure of the eye. If the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, the light entering the eye doesn’t focus correctly. Instead of images focusing on the retina directly, they focus in front of it. The retina is the light-sensitive area at the back of the eye. This lack of focus blurs your vision, causing what doctors call a refractive error.

 

Symptoms of Myopia

In most cases, blurriness or failure to see distant objects is the main symptom. There are, however, other symptoms, such as the following:

  • Headaches

  • Eyestrain

  • Squinting

  • Eye fatigue


Children who develop myopia usually find it difficult to read the writing on the blackboard in school. Symptoms differ in severity depending on the individual.


 

High Myopia

High myopia is a severe eye condition that occurs when the eyeball grows excessively. The eyeball becomes longer than normal from front to back. This growth makes it difficult to see objects at a distance. High myopia can increase the chance of developing other eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and detached retina.

 

Degenerative Myopia

Also called malignant or pathological myopia, degenerative myopia is a rare eye condition usually inherited from your parents. The eyeball gets lengthens over a short time, causing severe myopia by teen years or early adulthood. The condition worsens into late adulthood and can lead to abnormal growth of eye blood vessels, detached retina, and glaucoma.

 

Myopic Progression

Myopia usually begins in childhood and progresses through the school-aged years, usually stabilizing in the late teen years. The eye grows and elongates along with the rest of the body.


Growth stops in early adulthood when the body does. There are periods in development when a child experiences a growth spurt. When children hit a growth, they often require an updated prescription.

 

Importance of Taking Action

If your child develops symptoms of myopia, don’t wait to act. The fact is that the condition worsens with time. Failure to act early causes serious eye conditions and even vision loss. Myopic children may develop vision-threatening conditions like glaucoma, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, and cataracts later in life. Early treatment can impede the disease’s progression.


An eye exam will help to determine if you’re myopic. Glasses, contacts, and even refractive surgery can help to correct the issue. It is important to get an eye checkup annually to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Myopia progression can be slowed down. In cases of high myopia, doctors may prescribe atropine eye drops or special contacts to slow progression.


 

To know more about myopia, visit Ridgeview Eye Care at our offices in Olathe or De Soto, Kansas. You can also call (913) 270-8598 or (913) 270-6017 to book an appointment today.

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