Clearing the Blurry Vision: Causes, Treatment and Prevention of Myopia
Updated: Nov 13
Myopia is becoming increasingly common worldwide, affecting an estimated 30% of the global population. It is a growing concern in India, with an estimated 49.2 million people affected by the condition.
According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, the prevalence of myopia in India has increased significantly over the past few decades. The study found that while the prevalence of myopia was around 2-3% in the 1960s, it has now risen to around 30% in urban areas and 10-15% in rural areas.
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a refractive error that affects the way the eye focuses light. People with myopia can see nearby objects clearly, but distant objects appear blurry.
This rise in myopia is believed to be linked to a range of factors, including changing lifestyles, increased use of electronic devices, and decreased time spent outdoors. In a country where children often spend long hours studying, the high prevalence of myopia is particularly worrying. According to the All India Ophthalmological Society, around 10-20% of Indian children between the ages of 5 and 15 have myopia, and this figure is expected to rise in the coming years.
Senior ophthalmologist, Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao has spoken about the need to raise awareness about myopia and its impact on eye health. He has said, "Myopia is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, and we need to take urgent action to prevent its spread."
This blog will explore the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for myopia, as well as its impact on childhood and progressive myopia.
Physical Optics of Myopia
To understand myopia, it is helpful to understand the physical optics of the eye. The eye has a clear, curved lens that refracts light so that it focuses on the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, which acts like a roll of the camera.
In a normal eye, the lens and other structures in the eye refract light so that it focuses directly on the retina, resulting in clear vision. However, in people with myopia, the cornea or the lens are too curved or are irregular or the eyeball is too long, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of on it. This results in blurry distance vision. Near vision is generally intact in such eyes.
Causes of Myopia
The exact cause of myopia is largely unknown, but it is thought to be a combination of multiple genetic and environmental factors affecting at the same time.
Children with one or both parents with myopia or myopic astigmatism, are more likely to develop myopia themselves.
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