Myopia is the most common refractive error in the world. In fact, billions could be affected by this problem by 2050. At Northern Virginia Doctors of Optometry, we believe that promoting understanding of this condition is one way to save your vision.

Your eye care experts discuss four important facts about myopia.

1. Your Eye Shape Plays a Large Role in Myopia Development

An eyeball longer than the ideal may cause light to fall in front of the retina instead of directly on top of it. This may compromise how it is bent in your eyes, resulting in impaired long-range vision. A cornea that’s too curved may also lead to this problem.

2. Heredity Is a Major Risk Factor

Your eye doctor explains that heredity is a major risk factor for myopia development. If any of your relatives have this problem, you’re likely to have it as well.

3. You’ll Have Difficulties Seeing From Afar

You may have blurry vision, headaches and eye strain when looking at distant objects while you have no problems seeing things close to you. This is why this refractive error is more popularly referred to as nearsightedness.

4. There’s No Proven Cure for Myopia

While there’s no definite cure for myopia, Dr. Alicia Kim from our Falls Church location provides myopia control therapy. This includes three evidence-based treatments designed to prevent this refractive error’s progression. The first one is soft multi-focal contact lenses that help focus light in front of the peripheral retina, inhibiting the further elongation of your eyes.

Corneal reshaping therapy, on the other hand, involves wearing special lenses that modify your eye surface while you sleep. They are removed in the morning, reducing your dependency on eyeglasses for the rest of the day. Lastly, atropine eye drops temporarily stops your accommodation functions, slowing down myopia advancement.

For more information about myopia, call us at any of our four convenient locations, or complete our form to make an appointment.