High myopia, also known as severe near-sightedness, is a condition where objects up close are seen clearly, but distant objects appear blurry. People with high myopia typically have a refractive error of -6.00 diopters or worse.
Symptoms
The main symptom of high myopia is blurred vision, especially for distant objects. Other symptoms may include:
- Difficulty seeing things far away like road signs or the board at school
- Squinting or straining to see distant objects
- Headaches or eye pain from eye strain
- Poor night vision or needing very bright light to see
Causes
High myopia is usually caused by an elongated eyeball shape, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. Factors that may contribute to myopia include:
- Genetics – high myopia tends to run in families
- Excessive near work during childhood, like reading or screen time
- Visual deprivation early in childhood
Diagnosis
An eye doctor can diagnose high myopia through a thorough eye exam, including:
- Visual acuity test – measures ability to see letters from a distance
- Refraction test – determines prescription strength needed to correct vision
- Retinal exam – checks for retinal changes or damage from high myopia
High myopia is defined as -6.00 diopters or worse. The higher the number, the more nearsighted a person is.
Treatment
Treatments for high myopia include:
- Glasses or contact lenses – corrects refractive error and improves distance vision
- Orthokeratology – specialized rigid contact lenses to reshape cornea
- Refractive eye surgery – reshapes cornea through LASIK, PRK, or corneal implants
- Low vision aids – high-powered magnifiers, CCTV, etc.
It’s important to have regular eye exams to monitor for retinal changes and treat any complications early.
This provides an outline and introduction for a more comprehensive 5000 word article. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!
