Myopia: The onset of myopia + how does impaired distance vision appear?

Myopia , also technically referred to as myopia , is a vision disorder. The rays of light pass into the eye through the lens. It directs them so that they create a sharp image on the retina .

When myopia, ie refractive error , the light rays converge even before the retina .

You are often interested in: 
What is myopia and why it arises. 
What are his symptoms and how does he differ from farsightedness? 
What diopters / lenses do you need? 

The pattern thus formed is then not sharp on the retina , but blurred . The result is impaired vision when looking at more distant objects , ie into the distance.

Myopia affects about a third of the population.

At the same time, it is one of the most common refractive errors and can have a mild , moderate but also severe form . The first two forms usually manifest as early as puberty, and deterioration stops after development.

The most severe stage can lead to degenerative eye damage.

What are refractive errors?

Refractive error , technically also ametropia , is a disorder of refraction of light. The problem with these errors is that the rays of light converge badly. The image is not formed on the retina, but outside, and can occur in front of or behind it. The result is a blurred pattern, and therefore a visual error.

If the rays converge to form a point exactly on the retina , a sharp image is created . Technically, this normal phenomenon is referred to as emetropic , i.e., a normal sighted eye. 

Myopia - Myopia is caused by the fact that the pattern is formed in front of the retina.

Farsightedness , technically hypermetropia (hyperopia), is the opposite condition. The focal point, and thus the pattern, arises behind the retina. And in this defect, one sees poorly at short distances. We also know astigmatism , in which not one but two foci are created.

Myopia has three stages

Myopia has three stages. Light and  medium stage most often appear around the 6th - 7th year of life. It gradually develops during puberty until the age of 18.

It does not degrade or deteriorate further. This form is also referred to as stationary , school myopia . 

A severe stage occurs when vision continues to deteriorate, up to 4 diopters per year. This form is also referred to as progressive myopia . It appears in the first year of life and deteriorates rapidly.

Mild and moderate myopia occur most often at school age and during puberty. Severe forms are observable in early childhood and can even lead to degenerative eye damage in adulthood  .

The number of people with this disease in the world is rising.

The quality of vision in this case is also affected by a varied diet in children and sufficient lighting. If these factors are neglected for a long time, it leads to a decrease in the quality of vision and the onset of myopathy.

Myopia can be caused by a refractive error , but also as an axial disproportion of the eyeball , with the eyeball being too long. In the case of a refractive error, the eyeball is of normal length and the defect is due to the greater refraction of the optical members of the eye .

Light passes through the eye through several structures, each characterized by its refraction. These refractive errors can be caused by several, such as:

• the position of the elements of the eye system which refract light
• incorrect curvature of the fracture surface
• the position of the brittle system is oblique (incorrect placement of the lens or retina)
• bad refractive index
• the absence of an element from the brittle system, such as aphakia, ie the absence of a lens in the eye

The light rays pass through several structures and each has its own refractive index

In most cases, myopia is the cause of elongation of the eyeball . As a result, the rays of light come together in front of the retina, the image is out of focus, blurred. And especially when looking into the distance.

Myopia develops on a genetic basis. But the quality of vision can also be affected by other factors.

The most common factors affecting the quality of vision include :

• genetics and heredity
• poor nutrition
• eye diseases such as
  • corneal or lens disease
  • cataract
• other diseases
  • diabetes and diabetic retinopathy
• increased eye strain
  • frequent reading
  • poor lighting conditions when reading 
  • long-term work behind display units (computer, monitor, television)
• infectious diseases
• environmental factors

Thus, a symptom of myopia is impaired vision when viewing more distant objects . One sees well close objects , can read. However, as the distance increases, the eyes' ability to see sharply deteriorates.

The eyes have trouble focusing on subjects that are further away. These are then blurred and out of focus. In a person with myopia, it is possible to observe:

• squinting when looking into the distance, that is, squinting
• he does not see what happens next
• does not recognize familiar people
• sitting close to a computer or television
• he writes and reads closer to a notebook, a book - his nose on paper
• looking at objects up close

The distance itself is affected by the degree of visual error . Symptoms such as headache and eye fatigue also occur in humans . The eyes are watery , they are red . The blur distance depends on the degree of myopia.

The table shows the division of myopia according to the number of diopters

The name myopia comes from the Greek myein, meaning close up, squint and ops, ie the eye.

In children, vision usually deteriorates gradually, which the child may not notice and identify immediately during the first years. If difficulty is suspected, an ophthalmologist is best  examined . Early diagnosis reveals vision problems and their causes.

Do you know nocturnal myopia?

Nocturnal myopia is when vision problems are caused by reduced light or darkening . Its cause is not fully understood. However, it is the reason for the decline in work ability and performance of some jobs. He also has difficulty driving at dusk and in the dark.

The disease is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist on the basis of a professional ophthalmological examination . Visual acuity is examined. First, visual acuity is tested for each eye separately, separately, and later visual acuity together for both eyes.

Also part of the examination is the measurement of the so-called minimum angle of resolution . When measuring the angle at which the eye is still able to perceive two separate points as two and not as converging, which is typical of blurred vision.

Cycloplegia is also used in the examination , which is a temporary abolition of the accommodation properties of the eye. Mydriatics are used. Automatic refractometers are also used for examination  . For very young children , doctors also have hand-held devices at their disposal . A flat mirror retinoscopy is performed .

Of course, eye examination is also important for early diagnosis and subsequent treatment. A medical history is also important during the examination. Differential diagnosis is intended to reveal other causes of impaired vision.

TIP: An  article about the symptom of visual impairment .

Both the rate of symptoms and the course of the disease depend on its form. For example, in school , ie  static myopia , symptoms usually appear in the 6th year of life . However, the development persists even during puberty.

Visual impairment progresses more slowly. Subsequently, the development of this type of myopia stops after the end of growth. Usually a diopter compensation rate in the range of 5 - 6 D is required. 

In the late form of myopia , the problems usually appear after the age of 18. However, the need for diopter correction is not higher than 3 D. The progressive form has a worse course. It is also referred to as pathological or malignant myopia.

Progressive myopia appears in the first year of life. And it develops over the course of a lifetime. During growth, it can reach as much as -20 D. The problem with this species is that the retina often atrophies and degenerates. The risk is retinal detachment or the formation of cracks .