Nearsightedness (Myopia)
What Happens
Nearsightedness (myopia) usually begins in childhood or the early teens, between the ages of 8 and 14. Most children are born slightly farsighted, but this is corrected by the normal development of the eyeball during childhood. But if the eye grows so long that light rays focus in front of the retina
instead of directly on it, the child becomes nearsighted.
- During the teen years, as the eyeballs continue to grow, nearsightedness may develop or get worse quickly. Teenagers may need new glasses every 12 months or even more often.
- Nearsightedness usually stops getting worse by age 14 to 16 in women and by the mid-20s in men.
- Most nearsightedness stabilizes at a mild to moderate level.
You cannot change the course of nearsightedness after the condition starts. You can only try to correct your vision with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery.
Although treatment cannot change its course, it is important to detect nearsightedness as soon as possible. Children with uncorrected nearsightedness may have trouble learning in school and building social skills, and they may develop self-esteem problems.
After age 40, people often develop presbyopia, an inability to focus on near objects. This may require bifocal glasses or contact lenses.
Nearsightedness increases the risk of a serious condition called retinal detachment, although the risk is still quite low. The increase in risk depends on the degree of nearsightedness you have. Severe nearsightedness increases the risk much more than mild nearsightedness. People who have pathological myopia have an increased risk of cataracts and glaucoma as well as retinal detachment.
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| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: August 22, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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