Myopia or nearsightedness is a refractive error that’s commonly develops while you’re still young. You may struggle to see objects from afar, while you have no difficulties seeing something up-close. It can be managed by using prescription eyewear or corneal reshaping therapy.
In addition to having compromised sight, this vision problem may also put you at risk of having other eye conditions. Here are some of them:
Myopia and Cataracts
Cataracts are common not only among older individuals but also among those who are nearsighted. The risk is particularly high among those with severe myopia. In fact, a study involving a group of Koreans with high degrees of myopia showed they developed cataracts earlier than those who were not nearsighted or had no other refractive errors. Improvements in their vision following cataract surgery were not as good as compared to the group without myopia.
Another study conducted by an Australian group found that the risk of having cataracts increased as the degree of their nearsightedness worsened. One sign of myopia progression is having to change the prescription of your eyeglasses or contact lenses regularly. The results showed that the odds of having cataracts were twice as high among individuals who had severely myopic eyes than those who only had mild nearsightedness.
Glaucoma
In the same Australian research, the results showed that participants who had normal vision only had a 1.5 percent risk of developing glaucoma. On the other hand, signs of glaucoma were found in 4.2 percent of the subjects with low myopia. Meanwhile, a 4.4 percent glaucoma risk was identified in individuals who had moderate to high degrees of nearsightedness.
A Chinese study revealed similar findings. The risk of having glaucoma was higher among those who are severely nearsighted. The odds of developing glaucoma for highly myopic subjects were at least two times higher than those who only had moderate nearsightedness and three times higher when compared to those with mild myopia.
Having regular eye exams and managing myopia early on can help lower your risk of having these complications. Some options include ortho k lenses, eyeglasses and contact lenses. Contact a local myopia control specialist today to learn more about myopia and ways to control its progression.