Bilateral Myopia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Bilateral myopia is when both of your eyes are nearsighted. This means you may notice that things far away look blurry, but objects up close remain clear. Bilateral myopia can begin in childhood, the teenage years, or even adulthood, and it often gets worse slowly over time.

When both eyes are nearsighted, it can create different challenges than having myopia in just one eye. Understanding how bilateral myopia develops and how it can be managed is the first step in making informed choices about your eye health.

Bilateral myopia occurs when light entering your eyes focuses in front of the retina, rather than directly on it. This usually results from a combination of your eye’s shape and your genetic background.

The most common reason for bilateral myopia is that the eyeball grows longer than normal. This causes images to focus before they reach the retina, making distant objects appear blurry. This type of myopia often begins in childhood or the teenage years, when the eyes are still developing.

In some cases, the cornea or lens of the eye is more curved than usual. Even if the eyeball is not longer, this extra curvature bends light too much, leading to nearsightedness in both eyes.

The cornea and lens both help focus light onto the retina. If their shape or position is even slightly off, it can affect how light is focused, which may result in bilateral myopia.

Family history plays a significant role. If one or both parents are nearsighted, their children are more likely to develop bilateral myopia. Specific genes that influence eye growth and vision can increase this risk.

Often, several of these causes work together. This helps explain why bilateral myopia can be mild for some people and more severe for others.

Bilateral myopia typically affects both eyes at the same time, and the symptoms are usually similar in each eye.

 

Common symptoms include:

Symptoms of bilateral myopia may start out mild and gradually become more noticeable. In children, you might notice them sitting very close to screens, holding books up close, or avoiding activities that require seeing things at a distance.

Bilateral myopia is diagnosed during a comprehensive eye exam performed by an eye doctor.

Typical evaluation includes:

 

Your eye doctor will use an eye chart to measure how clearly each of your eyes can see at various distances.

A refraction test helps determine the right prescription to correct your myopia. It also shows how nearsighted each of your eyes is.

Your eye doctor will examine the retina, optic nerve, and the inside of your eyes to check for other problems and to assess your overall eye health.

Sometimes, your doctor may use special eye drops to dilate your pupils. This allows them to see the retina more clearly, especially when examining children’s eyes.

In some cases, special imaging is used to measure the length of your eyes. This helps your doctor determine whether your myopia is worsening.

Regular eye exams are especially important for children and teenagers, since bilateral myopia can progress as the eyes grow.

There are several effective ways to manage and correct bilateral myopia. The best option for you will depend on your age, your lifestyle, how severe your myopia is, and the overall health of your eyes.

Eyeglasses are the most common and straightforward way to correct myopia. They help focus light onto your retina, making distance vision clearer in both eyes.

Contact lenses provide clear vision without the need for glasses. They can also improve your side vision. There are different types of contact lenses, including soft, hard, and specialty lenses.

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) uses special contact lenses that you wear overnight. These lenses gently reshape your cornea while you sleep, so you can see clearly during the day without glasses or contacts. Ortho-K is sometimes used to help slow the progression of myopia in children.

Refractive surgery, such as LASIK or PRK, reshapes the cornea to permanently correct myopia. Surgery is usually considered only for adults whose vision has stabilized.

For children, doctors may recommend low-dose atropine eye drops or special contact lenses to help slow down the progression of myopia, not just to correct vision.

 

Regular eye exams are important to make sure your treatment stays up to date as your vision changes.

Myopia can appear in different ways for different people. Some important types include:

Understanding these different types helps your eye doctor decide how best to monitor and treat your myopia, especially if it is more severe.

Yes, bilateral myopia is very common. It can develop at any age, but it is most often seen in children and teenagers. Most people who have myopia experience it in both eyes.

Not necessarily. Bilateral myopia means both eyes are nearsighted, but the severity depends on your prescription. Some people have mild myopia in both eyes, while others have high myopia and may need more frequent monitoring.

Yes, bilateral myopia can get worse over time, especially in children and teenagers while their eyes are still growing. In adults, it usually slows down or stops changing. Regular eye exams are important to keep track of any changes.

Mild bilateral myopia usually does not lead to other eye problems. However, severe myopia can increase your risk of conditions such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, or changes in the back of the eye. This makes regular eye care especially important.

Yes, children with bilateral myopia should have regular eye exams to monitor their vision and adjust treatment as needed. Early check-ups can help slow down vision changes and keep the eyes healthy.

Bilateral myopia is a common vision problem where both eyes are nearsighted. It happens because of how the eyes grow, how they focus light, and family history. It often starts in childhood or the teenage years.

Common symptoms of bilateral myopia include blurry distance vision, eye strain, and headaches. Getting an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment can make your vision more comfortable and improve your daily life. Glasses, contact lenses, myopia control treatments, and surgery are all options. The best treatment depends on your individual needs.

Regular eye exams are essential for tracking changes in bilateral myopia and maintaining your eye health over time.