Myopia in Weston, FL

If you suffer from myopia in Weston, FL, you are not alone. Also known as nearsightedness, myopia is one of the most common vision problems people experience. Often running in families and becoming noticeable during childhood or adolescence, myopia involves being able to see objects close to you very clearly, but those that are further away are rather blurry. Noticed many times when children who sit in the back of a classroom start to have trouble seeing what their teacher is writing up in front, the good news is there are many treatment options available to control myopia. Whether it develops gradually or suddenly, a visit to an eye doctor will be your first step toward conquering myopia.

Myopia Symptoms

When myopia starts, there will be many unmistakable symptoms that emerge for both children and adults. Some of the most common include persistent squinting, headaches resulting from eyestrain, the need to start sitting closer to a TV or movie screen, or kids who need to sit at the front of their classroom. In addition, adults with myopia often have much more difficulty when driving at night, especially when headlights shine directly at them. If you or your child are experiencing such problems, you should schedule an appointment with an optometrist.

What Causes Myopia?

When myopia develops, it is due to light not being focused correctly into the eyes. Known as a refractive error, this means your cornea or eye lens is not curved as smoothly and evenly as it should be for normal vision. As a result, incoming light is focused in front of your retina rather than directly on it, thus leading to objects at a distance appearing very blurry.

Myopia Complications

If your myopia is left untreated, various complications and inconveniences can occur. One of the most common is an increased number of headaches resulting from always having to squint and strain your eyes to see various objects, especially those at a distance. Also, it can affect your day-to-day quality of life and can put you at increased risk of accidents when driving or operating other equipment. Finally, if you suffer from severe myopia, this can put you at increased risk of developing other eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, or retinal detachment.

Diagnosing Myopia

If you think you suffer from myopia, a standard eye exam with an optometrist in Weston, FL can usually diagnose your problem. By dilating your pupils and having you look through various lenses that test both your close-up and distance vision, an optometrist can confirm myopia exists and begin to discuss various treatment options.

Prescription Lenses

To correct myopia, the vast majority of kids and adults wear prescription lenses. This can take the form of either standard glasses or contact lenses, both of which can be made to your required specifications. Even if you require glasses or contact lenses that are single vision or multi-focal, these are simple and safe ways to quickly correct nearsightedness.

Prescription Sunglasses

Along with getting standard glasses or contact lenses, many people with myopia also choose to get prescription sunglasses. This can be more important than you may think since these will block harmful UV rays from your eyes while you are outside. Also, some research has shown that children and adults who spend little time outside may be more prone to developing myopia. Prescription sunglasses allow you to spend time outdoors without UV rays potentially harming your eyes.

LASIK Surgery

While many people choose to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct their myopia, more and more people are choosing to undergo LASIK surgery as a way to rid themselves of the problem permanently. Geared primarily toward adults, LASIK surgery is usually never given serious consideration until it has become clear the prescription for your nearsightedness is stabilized, meaning you will likely have had to wear glasses or contacts for several months or longer before being approved for surgery.

How Does LASIK Surgery Work?

Done by an ophthalmologist, LASIK surgery involves the surgeon using a laser to flatten the shape of the cornea, allowing light to be properly focused into your eye. A very quick surgery that has little discomfort, it is becoming a very popular and affordable option for many people. However, since the surgery cannot be reversed once performed, always be well-informed prior to making a final decision.

Other Treatments and Remedies

As for other methods in controlling Myopia, programs are offered for children to slow the progression of Myopia while the eye is still developing. Lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, spending more time outside and using proper lighting when reading and focusing on screens can also help slow and control Myopia progression. If you suspect you may be suffering from Myopia, schedule an appointment with your optometrist to get further guidance on what the best treatment option will be for your eyes.

Should you suspect that you or your child is suffering from myopia in Weston, FL, schedule an appointment with an optometrist. By doing so, you’ll get a diagnosis you can trust and start learning about various treatment options.