Myopia is an eye condition that impairs clear vision at a distance. Individuals with myopia can see close objects clearly, whereas their vision becomes blurred at greater distances. Myopia is classified as 'mild myopia' if it is below 3 diopters, 'moderate myopia' between 3-6 diopters, and 'high myopia' if it exceeds 6 diopters. High myopia can lead to eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts. Questions like the causes of myopia, what is myopic astigmatism, and how myopia is treated should be evaluated by a specialist physician based on the patient's age, eye structure, and degree of refractive error.
What is Myopia?
Myopia is a refractive error where distant objects appear blurred and close objects are seen clearly. This occurs when light focuses in front of the retina. Myopia typically begins during childhood and adolescence, and it can progress over time, necessitating regular eye examinations for monitoring.
What Are the Symptoms of Myopia?
The symptoms of myopia are primarily characterized by the inability to see distant objects clearly. These complaints, noticeable in daily life, may become more pronounced over time due to reduced visual quality. The most common symptoms of myopia include:
- Blurred vision of distant objects
- Squinting to see distant objects
- Headaches
- Eye pain
- Increased difficulty seeing at night
How is Myopia Treated?
The initial treatment option for individuals with myopia is typically glasses or contact lenses. Although using these devices does not cure or reduce the degree of myopia, avoiding their use can lead to faster progression of the condition. Besides glasses and contact lenses, laser and intraocular smart lens treatments are also available options for treating myopia.
As with any disease, regular examinations are very important for myopia. Regular check-ups can reveal whether the degree of myopia is progressing or causing another eye condition, allowing for early diagnosis and preventive measures. Additionally, some measures can be taken:
- Limit the time spent on technological devices such as TVs, computers, phones, and tablets. Pay attention to the eye distance rule when using these devices.
- Chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension are known to adversely affect eye health. Skipping check-ups and treatments in case of such illnesses can also negatively impact eye health. Treatments for chronic health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure should not be neglected due to their adverse effects on eye health.
- Eyes should be protected from the harmful effects of sunlight, direct exposure to the sun should be avoided, and sunglasses should be used whenever possible.
Treatment methods may vary from person to person; a specialist ophthalmologist should always be consulted to determine the appropriate option.
What Factors Trigger the Development of Myopia?
Both genetic and environmental factors can play a role in the development of myopia. It is believed that external influences are effective in the emergence of this eye condition alongside genetic predisposition. Individuals with family members who have myopia are more likely to develop the condition. However, it is not limited solely to genetic predisposition. Activities requiring prolonged focusing on nearby objects, especially during childhood, can accelerate the development of myopia.
Widespread screen exposure, long hours spent indoors, and insufficient exposure to natural sunlight are also factors that lay the groundwork for myopia. Therefore, it is crucial for children to spend adequate time outdoors during the day to prevent myopia.
What is Myopic Astigmatism?
Myopic astigmatism is a condition where both myopia and astigmatism are present simultaneously. While myopia leads to the eye focusing light in front of the retina, astigmatism causes light to refract at different angles due to an uneven corneal or lens surface. This results in images being perceived as blurry or distorted.
Individuals with myopic astigmatism experience blurred distance vision and perceive distortion in images. For example, a straight line may appear curved or broken. This can significantly reduce visual comfort and lead to complaints such as headaches and eye fatigue. Treatment for myopic astigmatism can involve glasses, contact lenses, or laser methods.
How Can the Progression of Myopia Be Prevented?
The progression of myopia can be faster, particularly during childhood and adolescence. Some effective steps that can be taken to slow down or control this process include:
- Regular eye examinations: Tracking the prescription of glasses can help manage the progression of myopia.
- Atropine drop treatment: Low-dose atropine drops can be used, especially in children, to slow down the progression of myopia. This treatment should always be planned by an ophthalmologist.
- Night lenses (orthokeratology): Special hard contact lenses worn at night can provide clearer vision throughout the day and slow down myopia progression.
- Outdoor activities: Spending at least 1-2 hours per day in natural sunlight is a key factor in slowing down myopia development.
While these measures can slow the progression of myopia, stopping it completely may not be possible. Therefore, regular monitoring and medical follow-up are important.
Is Myopia Permanently Curable?
The question "How can myopia be cured?" is one of the most common concerns for those affected by this condition. Since myopia involves permanent changes to the eye structure, spontaneous resolution is not possible. However, this condition can be effectively managed through treatment methods.
While vision correction can be achieved with glasses and lenses, longer-term correction may be sought through laser treatment or intraocular smart lens applications. Laser treatment reshapes the cornea to correct myopia. This treatment is especially beneficial for individuals over 18 whose prescription has stabilized and whose eye structure is suitable.
Intraocular lens treatment is often preferred for higher degrees of myopia or for eyes unsuitable for laser treatment. It provides long-term effectiveness by replacing the natural lens with a specially designed artificial lens.
Daily Life Considerations for Managing Myopia
For individuals with myopia, adopting certain simple but effective habits is important to improve their quality of life:
- Establish a habit of resting the eyes every 20 minutes for 20 seconds by looking away when reading or using a computer,
- Avoid prolonged reading in poorly lit environments,
- Avoid harmful habits such as rubbing the eyes,
- Reduce screen time and use a blue light filter.
Such habits help reduce eye fatigue, may slow myopia progression, and support overall eye health.
Treatment of High Myopia with Intraocular Smart Lenses
For high degrees of myopia, particularly refractive errors at 6 diopters and above, laser treatment may not always be sufficient or suitable. In cases where laser intervention is not feasible or a more permanent and clear solution is desired, intraocular smart lens applications stand out. This treatment method is generally performed using similar techniques to cataract surgery, but it can also be applied to correct refractive errors in patients without cataracts.
In intraocular smart lens treatment, the patient’s natural lens is replaced with a multifocal artificial lens. These lenses provide clear vision not only for distant objects but also for mid and near distances. Thus, the patient gains relief from high-degree myopia and benefits from multifocal vision.
Advantages:
- Can provide long-term vision correction.
- Both myopia and additional refractive errors like astigmatism can be corrected.
Who is it suitable for?
- Individuals over 40 whose prescription has stabilized
- Patients with eye structures not suitable for laser surgery
- Individuals at risk for cataracts or with early-stage cataracts
Post-treatment recovery processes and expected outcomes can vary from person to person.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes myopia?
The primary cause of myopia is the eye globe being longer than normal or the cornea having a steeper curve than necessary. While genetic factors play a significant role, environmental factors (such as extensive screen use and lack of outdoor activities) can also trigger the development of myopia.
How is myopia treated?
The treatment of myopia can be planned using different methods depending on the person's age, eye structure, and degree of visual impairment. The most common treatment options are glasses and contact lenses. Individuals seeking visual comfort may opt for laser treatment or intraocular smart lens surgeries. Particularly, laser treatment provides successful results in individuals whose myopia has stabilized and with appropriate eye structures.
How is myopic astigmatism treated?
In cases of myopic astigmatism, similar treatment approaches are used to achieve visual clarity. Glasses and toric (astigmatism-correcting) lenses are the most commonly used methods. Modern laser surgery can correct both myopia and astigmatism. A detailed eye examination should be conducted before a treatment plan, taking corneal structure and prescriptions into account.
Can the progression of myopia be stopped?
While it cannot be completely stopped, the progression rate of myopia can be significantly slowed. Particularly, atropine drop therapy initiated during childhood, orthokeratology lenses, and the habit of spending time outdoors can significantly hinder myopia progression. Regular eye examinations can also monitor prescription increases, allowing timely interventions.
