What is Myopia? How is the Diagnosis and Treatment?
Myopia is the inability to see far clearly due to the structure of the eye being longer than normal. In myopia, the rays coming into the eye are focused in front of the retina, not on it.
People with myopia have difficulty seeing distant objects and signs, but they can clearly see objects that are close.
Myopia is one of the most common eye disorders. It usually shows symptoms at school age (between 7-10 years of age) and increases until adulthood.
Symptoms
Myopia may squint due to farsightedness, which can lead to headaches.
Apart from that, the symptoms of myopia briefly:
- Blurred vision of distant objects
- Do not squint your eyes,
- Head and eye pain caused by eye strain,
- Difficulty seeing when driving, especially at night (night myopia)
- Difficulty reading road signs.
- Myopia does not have problems in close vision activities such as reading books and using computers.
However, not being able to see far can make it difficult for you to carry out your daily activities. Do not neglect to consult an ophthalmologist if the above symptoms occur. Myopia; It is a problem that can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses and laser therapy.
Myopia Symptoms in Children
- Frequent and persistent squinting,
- Sitting close to the television or sitting at the front of the classroom
- Not recognizing distant objects
- Frequent blinking
- Rubbing his eyes frequently.
In short, you can tell if your child is nearsighted by squinting at the blackboard at school, wanting to watch TV closely at home, or squinting regularly. Routine eye examinations in children are very important for eye health. These examinations are:
- Within 6 months after birth
- 2.5-3 years old
- Before starting school
- It is held once or twice a year during the school year.
What are Myopia Grades?
If myopia is less than 3 degrees, "mild myopia"; If it is between 3-6 degrees, it is called "moderate myopia" and above 6 degrees is called "high myopia".
The problem of farsightedness increases until the age of 18 due to the elongation of the eye. However, after the age of 18, progress may continue, especially in those who do too much near vision activities (reading, screen/mobile phone use, etc.). There is no spontaneous reduction in the natural course of myopia.
Treatment Methods
- It can be treated with glasses and contact lenses, as well as laser or intraocular lens surgery.
- Depending on the degree of myopia, you may need to wear your glasses or contact lenses all the time.
- Wearing glasses does not reduce the degree of myopia. However, grades progress faster if glasses or contact lenses are not used.
- In myopia, laser and intraocular lens treatments are used in addition to glasses and contact lenses.
Laser and Intraocular Lens Method
The most commonly used methods are LASIK, Femto LASIK, i-LASIK and PRK applications.
LASIK is the most common method of surgery for myopia. The surgeon uses a laser or other instrument to create a thin flap above the cornea. It shapes the cornea with another laser and moves the lid back into place.
Laser eye surgery with PRK uses a laser to shape the cornea. This flattens the curve of the cornea and allows the light rays to be fully focused on the retina.
Is Laser Surgery Necessary in Myopia?
Laser in distance vision problem; It is recommended for those who do not prefer to wear glasses or contact lenses. There is no 100% zero number guarantee after laser, but approximately 95 out of 100 people who have laser for myopia can see completely without glasses or contact lenses.
