Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is a refractive error of the eye that causes distant objects to appear blurry while nearby objects remain clear. It occurs when the eye is too long or the cornea is too curved, which causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of on it.
As a result, people with nearsightedness can see close objects, like the text on a page or a computer screen, but have difficulty seeing objects far away, like road signs or the faces of people across a room.
Nearsightedness can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. It is a common condition that affects around 30% of the population in the United States.
Nearsighted causes
Nearsightedness, or myopia, is a common vision issue due to a refractive error. In nearsighted eyes, the eye’s shape causes light to focus at an incorrect point on the retina, making it harder to see distant objects.
The exact cause of this vision problem remains unknown, though experts believe it likely stems from some combination of genetic and environmental factors. Potential causes of nearsightedness may include:
- Genetics: People with nearsighted family members may be more likely to develop it themselves.
- Eye strain: Excessive reading, computer use, and other close work can cause eye strain, which may contribute to the development of nearsightedness.
- Lack of outdoor time: Natural light and decreased time spent looking at books, tablets, and computer screens may be beneficial. To minimize the chances of developing nearsightedness, consider increasing the outdoor activities you participate in.
- Eye shape: Nearsightedness occurs when the shape of the eye is too long for the curvature of the cornea and lens. This causes light that enters to be focused incorrectly on the retina, leading to blurred vision in distant objects.
- Age: Nearsightedness is a common eye condition that usually begins in childhood and can worsen as one age. It typically stabilizes during the mid-20s of adulthood.
It’s important to note that while these factors may contribute to the development of nearsightedness, the exact cause can vary from person to person, and not everyone with nearsightedness will have the same underlying factors.
How to Prevent Nearsighted Vision
While genetic factors often cause nearsightedness, there are some steps you can take to slow down its progression potentially:
- Spend more time outdoors: Studies have shown that spending more time in natural daylight can help reduce the risk of developing nearsightedness, particularly in children. Encourage children to play outside and take regular breaks from near work, like reading or using electronic devices.
- Limit screen time: Excessive screen time, particularly at a young age, has been linked to an increased risk of nearsightedness. Encourage children to take frequent breaks from electronic devices and limit their time using them.
- Practice good posture: Poor posture, particularly when reading or using electronic devices, can contribute to nearsightedness. Make sure children are sitting up straight and holding devices at an appropriate distance.
- Get regular eye exams: Regular eye exams can help detect nearsightedness early and allow for appropriate treatment. It’s recommended that children have their first eye exam at 6 months of age, again at 3 years old, and then before starting school. Adults should have a comprehensive eye exam every 1-2 years or as their eye doctor recommends.
- Consider orthokeratology: Orthokeratology, or “ortho-k,” involves wearing special contact lenses overnight that temporarily reshape the cornea, allowing for clear vision during the day without needing glasses or contacts. While not a preventative measure, ortho-k can help slow down the progression of nearsightedness in some individuals.
Can a Nearsighted be Cured?
While there is no known cure for nearsightedness, it can be effectively managed and corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.
Eyeglasses and contact lenses work by bending light and redirecting it correctly onto the retina, allowing for clear vision. Refractive surgery, such as LASIK, can permanently reshape the cornea to correct nearsightedness.
Some newer treatments, such as corneal collagen crosslinking, are being researched, which may slow down the progression of nearsightedness in some individuals.
While there is no way to cure nearsightedness at this time completely, these treatments can significantly improve vision and quality of life for those with the condition.
10 Easy Exercises to Improve Nearsighted Vision
Several eye exercises may help improve nearsighted vision. Here are 10 easy exercises you can try:
- Blinking: To help reduce nearsighted symptoms, taking breaks from focusing and blinking frequently is essential. Blinking helps to lubricate the eyes and reduce discomfort by providing additional moisture to the exposed surface of the eyeball.
- Palming: Palming, one technique for helping ease nearsightedness, involves gentle pressure and heat to relax the eyes. To do it, rub your hands together to generate warmth and place them over your eyes for several minutes while taking deep breaths. This can help improve focus and reduce eye strain.
- Focus shifting: One exercise individuals with nearsightedness may engage in to help improve their vision is known as focus shifting. To do this, hold your thumb up in front of your face and focus on it. Then, move your eyes away from your thumb towards an object farther away and back again. Repeat this a few times to help stimulate the eyes and improve vision.
- Eye rolling: One way to help improve nearsightedness is by doing eye-rolling exercises. These rolling exercises involve rolling the eyes in a gentle circular motion clockwise and counterclockwise – designed to help stretch the muscles around the eyes.
- Figure eight: To help improve vision and reduce the effects of nearsightedness, a simple exercise known as figure 8 tracing can be done. To do this exercise, visualize a large figure 8 before you and trace it with your eyes several times. Doing this regularly may help to improve eyesight overall.
- Near and far focusing: Practice near and far focusing: focus on an object close to you and slowly move it away from your face while maintaining focus. Repeat this exercise multiple times for the best results.
- Zooming: An exercise to help improve nearsightedness is zoom focusing. To do this, take an object like a pen or pencil and hold it close to your face while keeping your focus on the object. Slowly move the object away until it appears blurry, then move it back closer to your face. Repeat this several times for the best results.
- Letter tracing: A simple exercise to improve nearsightedness is letter tracing. To do this, trace letters or numbers on a wall or whiteboard with your eyes without moving your head. This can help strengthen the muscles of the eyes and aid in focusing.
- Distance viewing: To help ease eyes strained from near-work activities like reading or using digital devices, take breaks and look at something farther away, such as out a window or across the room.
- Sunning: Sunning is a famous natural remedy people use to address nearsightedness. The technique involves closing one’s eyes and facing the sun with their head tilted. One should take caution not to look directly into the sun and instead move their head from side to side while feeling the warmth of its rays on their eyelids.
Conclusion
Nearsightedness is a common refractive error that affects the ability to see distant objects. While the exact cause is not fully understood, it is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as excessive close work and lack of outdoor time.
While there is no known cure for nearsightedness, it can be effectively managed with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. It is essential to have regular eye exams to monitor nearsightedness and any potential changes in vision.
