Myopia can lead to complications affecting vision and ocular alignment without effective control. Suppose you’re experiencing the symptoms of myopia, or nearsightedness like blurred vision, headaches, and eyestrain, then it might be time to speak with an optometrist or ophthalmologist to get a diagnosis. Myopia can be classified into non-pathological myopia and pathological myopia.
Non-Pathological Myopia
This is commonly referred to as physiological, school, or simple myopia. The most common cause of non-pathological myopia is simply a change in the curvature of the eyeball as it grows. When the cornea is too curved, light rays are bent and reach the retina at an angle, which results in blurred vision.
Pathological Myopia
This type of Myopia is a degenerative disease that can lead to severe complications in vision, such as retinal detachment. It usually starts in childhood and progresses slowly, causing more severe vision loss over time.
So, what are the four best ways to treat and manage myopia?
1. Using Atropine
Atropine is an eye drop that can help ease myopia symptoms by slowing down the condition’s progression. It habituates the accommodation reflex and can be used to treat pathologic myopia.
2. Using Orthokeratology
If your myopia is still progressing, or you need to stop it from progressing further, orthokeratology is a viable option. It helps patients with non-pathological myopia. It involves having a special plastic lens that is put in front of the eye. The lens gradually reshapes your cornea to normal and it becomes straight again. The technology works by flattening the cornea’s curvature so that light can go straight to the retina.
It was initially developed to treat patients with refractive errors due to night blindness, but studies have shown it to be useful in treating patients with myopic progression. Orthokeratology lenses reduce myopia by up to two diopters. They can also decrease the amount of eye strain and improve vision.
3. Using Lasik Surgery
You can get Lasik surgery and reduce your myopia by up to four diopters. It helps improve vision by decreasing the amount of myopia and astigmatism that you have.
4. Specialized Sunglasses for Myopia
The fourth way to treat and manage myopia is to use specialized sunglasses. This is especially important for patients with pathologic myopia. High-quality sunglasses can help reduce the incidence of retinal detachment; a condition caused by severe myopia in which the retina detaches from the back of the eye. Also, this is a good option for parents who have children with myopia but do not fancy their kids wearing contact lenses.
It is best to consult with your eye care specialist if you’re experiencing some of the symptoms of pathologic myopia. At Evolutionary Eye Care, we offer a full service with all the latest technology to help you. Our specialty services include dry eye, vision therapy, myopia control/orthokeratology, keratoconus/specialty contacts, low vision and more. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
