Helping Preserve Your Vision
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive error in which your eyes have trouble focusing on objects that are far away. Myopia is a common condition that affects around 25% of Americans, and is considered an eye focusing disorder rather than an eye disease.
Myopia is often inherited, so children of parents with myopia will likely have it as well. Taking your child for a comprehensive eye exam can help to identify early signs of myopia, allowing for prompt treatment. Myopia often begins to occur between the ages of 8 and 12, worsening as a child ages. However, myopia can occur in adults at any time.
Typically, the cornea and lens refract light to focus on the retina, which forms the images we see. If the eye is longer than normal, or has a steep cornea, the light will focus in front of the retina rather than on it. This is what makes objects at a distance appear blurred.
As part of a typical exam, we will use a standard letter chart and phoropter to assess your myopia. To determine the cause of your myopia, we will use a retinoscope to reflect light off of your retina. This test will help to determine if you are nearsighted or farsighted.
