What is myopia?
Myopia is a refractive error that manifests itself when distant objects are projected at a point in front of the retina, instead of on it. As a result, a distorted perception of the image occurs and, therefore, vision is blurred and poorly defined.
People who suffer from myopia are characterised by alterations in the different structures of the eye such as its corneal curvature, the optical power of its lens (excessive power) or the size of its eyeball (excessive length).
Myopia is the most common visual defect among people under the age of 45 and can be associated with other refractive errors, such as astigmatism (myopic astigmatism) and presbyopia or eyestrain.
NORMAL EYE
MYOPIA
Causes of myopia
GENETIC
Myopia has an important hereditary component, although it can appear in people with no family history.
PATHOLOGICAL
Certain diseases can trigger the appearance of this refractive error temporarily or permanently.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Tasks that require continuous close focus or poorly lit environments can lead to vision problems.
Symptoms of myopia
The main symptom of the patient with myopia is that they have poor distance vision and yet optimal near vision. Other symptoms you may suffer from are eye strain, headache, difficulty concentrating, permanent dry/itchy eyes, etc.
Myopia at different ages
Infancy
Symptoms can occur from an early age. Therefore, it is advisable to have a complete ophthalmological check-up from the age of 3-4 to detect or rule out latent visual alterations.
Adolescence
Myopia can advance during this stage of intense body development. In general, it tends to stabilize after the age of 20, although its evolution will vary depending on each particular case.
Adulthood
Myopia can also occur in adulthood. Although some people prefer optical correction, refractive surgery offers a variety of options to eliminate dependence on glasses and/or contact lenses.
