Myopia Archives - Will Vision

Why Myopia Progression Is A Concern

Dr. Will — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 08:00:47 +0000

Are you or your child’s eyes getting worse every year?

Some youngsters who develop myopia (nearsightedness) have continuous myopia progression throughout their school years, including high school.

While annual eye exam costs and new glasses every year can be a financial strain on some families, the long-term risks of myopia progression are more significant.

More Children Are Developing Myopia

Nearsightedness is one of the more common eye disorders worldwide. The prevalence of myopia is about thirty to forty percent among adults in Europe and America and up to eighty percent or higher in many East Asian countries. It’s estimated that by 2050, nearly half of the world’s population will be nearsighted.

Classification of Myopia Severity

Mild nearsightedness typically does not increase the risk for eye health problems. But moderate and high nearsightedness are associated with severe and vision-threatening effects.

When nearsightedness-related eye complications and vision loss occur, a high level of myopia is known as pathological myopia or degenerative myopia.

Adults with high nearsightedness usually had mild myopia when they were young, and their nearsightedness progressed every year.

Myopia-Related Eye Problems

Significant eye problems associated with nearsightedness may include:

Cataracts. In a recent study of cataracts among Koreans with high nearsightedness, researchers found cataracts developed sooner in highly nearsighted eyes than eyes without myopia. Eyes with a high level of nearsightedness had a higher occurrence of coexisting eye disease and complications, like retinal detachment.

Glaucoma. Myopia has been associated with an increased risk of glaucoma. In an Australian study, glaucoma was found in 4.2 percent of eyes with mild nearsightedness and 4.4 percent of eyes with moderate-to-high nearsightedness, compared with 1.5 percent without myopia.

Retinal detachment. In a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, scientists found nearsightedness was an apparent risk factor for retinal detachment.

Results showed eyes with mild nearsightedness had a four-fold increased retinal detachment risk compared with non-myopic eyes. Among eyes with moderate and high nearsightedness, the risk increased ten-fold. The study authors also concluded that almost fifty-five percent of retinal detachments not caused by trauma are attributable to nearsightedness.

What You Can Do About Myopia Progression

The best course of action to slow the progression of childhood myopia is to schedule annual eye exams. Your ophthalmologist can monitor how much and how fast the eyes are changing.

Often, children with nearsightedness don’t complain about their vision, so schedule annual exams regardless of whether they talk about vision changes.

Schedule Annual Eye Exams

If your child is nearsighted, schedule annual eye exams with board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Brian Key today. During the exam, ask about myopia control measures to slow the progression of nearsightedness in your or your child’s eyes.

The first step for vision correction is to schedule a visit with a board-certified ophthalmologist to evaluate your vision. Take advantage of a complimentary screening examination at Will Vision and Laser Centers at one of our convenient Vancouver and Salem locations.

The post Why Myopia Progression Is A Concern appeared first on Will Vision.

Myopia: Is There A Cure for Nearsightedness?

Dr. Will — Wed, 26 May 2021 17:25:01 +0000

Myopia is defined as a problem seeing things far away. Although nearsightedness affects all ages, the constant use of digital screens on smartphones, tablets, and computers has increased its risk with children. But you might ask – if you or your children struggle with nearsightedness, is there a cure?

Since the advent of smartphones and tablets, researchers and eye care practitioners have wondered the same thing. Recent studies indicate it may be possible to control myopia by reducing its progression during childhood and among teens. However, at this time, there is no cure.

Nearsightedness Is Not an Eye Disease

Myopia is a refractive flaw caused by an elongated eyeball. This elliptical shape prevents light that enters the eye to not focus on the retina at the back of the eye. Instead, the light focuses on the front of the retina, causing objects to appear blurry in the distance.

Myopia Control

Finding the best treatment for myopia first requires an eye exam. Board-certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Brian Will can determine the severity of your myopia. He will suggest a clear pathway to regain clear vision from solutions as simple as wearing glasses to wavefront-guided refractive eye surgery. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better the patient can avoid poor eyesight at school or work.

Glasses

Glasses are the most popular solution for nearsighted patients. It allows them to see objects in the distance with clarity. For our older patients who suffer from presbyopia, glasses may be multi-focal, offering correction for reading and distance built into the same set of lenses.

However, they may cause a collection of aggravations. These include physical discomfort on the nose and ears, inconvenience when participating in physical or sporting activities, and fogging in humid conditions. Multi-focal glasses can create a fish-bowl effect that can generate dizziness, difficulty walking, or going up and down the stairs.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are trendy, particularly since the introduction of soft contact lenses that can correct for astigmatism. Unfortunately, many people simply cannot tolerate the insertion or wearing of contact lenses. For others who have successfully used contacts in the past, they can sometimes no longer tolerate them due to the onset of allergies or dry eye. Fortunately, those who cannot wear contact lenses are frequently ideal candidates for advanced Wavefront-Guided Bladeless Lasik.

Laser Eye Surgery (LASIK)

LASIK surgery is a popular, safe, and highly effective option for nearsightedness. Its laser is designed to reshape your cornea, permitting light entering your eye to focus correctly. With today’s advanced technology, most patients are suitable candidates for laser vision correction.

Your specific condition dictates whether surgery can provide the results you want. It’s essential to note LASIK centers that utilize older technologies cannot deliver the best results available.

If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Will to discuss treatment options for myopia, contact his Vancouver, Washington, Salem, or Portland, Oregon offices today. Call (877) 542-3937 or complete our online contact form.

The post Myopia: Is There A Cure for Nearsightedness? appeared first on Will Vision.

Can I Get LASIK if I Have Myopia?

Dr. Will — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 01:17:49 +0000

Have you been told that you have myopia? Many patients hear the term and worry that they have a serious eye problem and are no longer a candidate for LASIK surgery. Myopia may sound scary, but it’s a complicated word with a simple definition. If you have myopia, you are nearsighted. This is the most common refractive error of the eye and is easily treated with LASIK surgery. Come see us at Will Vision & Laser Centers and treat your myopia. With LASIK surgery, you can enjoy clearer vision without glasses or contacts.

LASIK and Myopia

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, occurs when the eye is too long or the cornea is too curved. This causes focusing problems with the light entering the eye. With nearsightedness, distant objects look blurry. Myopia is very common and affects approximately 30% of the population in the U.S.

LASIK surgery corrects refractive errors, or problems with focusing light. A laser is used to reshape the cornea, changing its focusing power and improving the eye’s ability to focus light and see clearly. LASIK surgery is an excellent treatment option for myopia, hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia, and astigmatism.

Do I Have Myopia?

If you’ve been told that you are nearsighted, you have myopia. Nearsightedness can vary in severity. Some patients can see well up close, but struggle to focus on objects that are far in the distance. Other patients can only focus on things that are a few inches from their face. You may have myopia if close objects are clear and distant objects appear blurred. Myopia can be treated with glasses, contacts, or LASIK surgery.

Am I a Good Candidate for LASIK?

If you use glasses or contacts, you are likely a good candidate for LASIK surgery. At Will Vision & Laser Centers, we use only the most advanced technologies available. This allows us to treat many vision problems including high degrees of nearsightedness and farsightedness. We have successfully treated many patients that were told that they weren’t good candidates for LASIK elsewhere. Our goal is to dramatically improve your vision and we accept nothing less than your 100% satisfaction with your vision and experience. Come see and we’ll help you determine if you’re a good candidate for LASIK.

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