More than 34 million Americans have been diagnosed with nearsightedness, or myopia, in comparison to only 14.2 million with farsightedness, or hyperopia. Both conditions are very treatable, and if intervenes early can help slow the progress of glasses or corrective vision procedures ahead of time.
Want to know more about nearsighted vision? Keep reading to discover symptoms, causes, and more.
What Is Nearsightedness and Do I Have It?
Nearsighted vision medically called myopia is a condition where you can see objects in front of you without any problems, but have blurred vision when looking at objects at a distance.
Nearsightedness comes in a variety of types depending on how far the object is from you before you can no longer see it clearly. Typically, this condition occurs with age as our eyesight begins to gradually weaken but can affect people at any age.
You’ll know you have it when you find yourself squinting at things at a distance like road signs, or even reading the menu behind the counter at a coffee shop. You may also get headaches as well as eye pain from your body trying to overcompensate the blurry vision.
How Do You Get Nearsighted?
Nearsighted vision happens when your eye shape makes the light that’s coming into it refract incorrectly. This means that the light isn’t bending the way it does in a healthy eye without causing image distortions.
Nearsightedness can also result from cone-rod dysfunction which means your photoreceptors aren’t working the correct way they should. Your cones and rods are responsible for helping you see in low and high light situations as well as perceive color.
Nearsighted vision can be a result of genetics, eyestrain, and/or age.
What Can You Do If You’re Nearsighted?
if you suspect nearsighted vision, it’s best to make an appointment with a family eye care specialist for a check-up.
Optometrists can look into your eyes and test them to see their weakness and whether or not you need a prescription for glasses. A good rule of thumb is to avoid straining your eyes for long periods of time and if you find yourself squinting to go check them out right away.
Additionally, screen time is a controversial topic. Most researchers say screens contribute to poor and decreasing eyesight, especially in younger children. Set limits for yourself and take breaks from staring at your screen all day.
Correcting Your Nearsighted Vision
In the words of Celine Dion ‘near, far wherever you are’ should be your anthem to get your eyes checked regularly to intervene when nearsighted vision is suspected. If you’re genetically predisposed to nearsighted vision be sure to talk to your doctor about a check-up schedule that works for you to help slow down the progress of blurry vision.
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