What Is Myopia (Nearsightedness)?

Myopia, otherwise known as nearsightedness, is one of the many reasons why people decide to make an appointment with an optometrist. If you've been experiencing blurry vision, you know how disconcerting it is not to be able to see clearly. The good news is that our optometrists at CV Optometry have a wide range of solutions that can help restore your myopic vision to wonderfully sharp 20/20 vision!
 

Is My Blurry Vision Caused by Myopia?

There are many reasons why a person may experience blurred vision, although myopia, or nearsightedness, is one of the more common ones. Myopia occurs when a person can clearly see nearby objects, however, the farther they move away from an object, the more blurry it becomes. If the person moves far enough away, they may be unable to correctly identify the object altogether.
 

Why Does Blurriness Occur With Myopia?

Normally, the light rays received by the eyes focus on a certain area of retinal nerve tissue. In turn, the retina is then able to accurately pass information about an image to the brain for processing. When a person has myopia or nearsightedness, their eyeball is misshapen enough to where the light rays received into the eye refract, or bend.

Instead of focusing on retinal nerve tissue, the light rays bend to focus on an area in front of the retina. This means the retina is unable to accurately pass along information about an image to the brain.
 

Who May Develop Myopia?

Myopia, or nearsightedness, often develops in childhood. Myopia can develop as an adult, however, especially in those with diabetes. The condition also tends to run in families.
 

Signs Your Child May Be Developing Myopia

Children often have difficulty expressing themselves when something is physically wrong with them, so parents need to be sensitive to signs that their child may be developing a vision problem. If you notice your child squinting a lot, it could be because they're having difficulty seeing.

Some children may report they can no longer clearly see the chalkboard at school, and that is why their grades are slipping. Others may not say anything at all, and parents only notice a change when their child brings home a report card that doesn't match their abilities. In addition, frequent headaches/eyestrain are other signs a person may be experiencing myopia.
 

The First Step to Clear Vision

If you or a loved one is experiencing blurred vision, the first step is to make an appointment with an optometrist. The eye care professionals at CV Optometry will guide you or your loved one through a complete eye exam to determine if myopia is present. Next, they'll discuss a range of options designed to correct myopia — from prescription eyewear to multiple types of contact lenses, including corneal-shaping contact lenses that can be worn while sleeping. The optometrists at CV Optometry can also discuss alternatives such as LASIK eye surgery, and whether you're a good candidate for this type of solution.

Are you ready to experience sharp vision once again? Call CV Optometry at (760) 347-6636 to make an appointment.