Myopia is a common vision problem that makes far away objects look blurry while close up objects remain in focus. It usually develops in childhood and can progress as your child grows.
Myopia is a refractive error, which means light doesn’t focus on the right spot in the eyeball.
In most cases of myopia, the eyeball grows a little longer than it should. This makes it difficult for light to focus on the retina when looking at a distance. The retina, which is located at the back of the eye, uses light to create a sharp image. When light can’t come to focus on it, it results in blurry distance vision.
Myopia can be low, moderate or high. Having high myopia can increase your child’s risk of developing serious vision complications later in life, like retinal detachment and glaucoma.
Some things that may contribute to myopia development include genetics, not enough outdoor time and extended periods of focusing up close without vision breaks.
Regular eye exams can help diagnose myopia in your child, and provide corrective lenses that allow them to see clearly. An eye doctor may also offer myopia control strategies to help slow the progression of myopia.
To learn more about myopia, visit AllAboutVision.com.
