Myopia
Einstein Health Glossary
ICD 10 - H521
What is myopia?
Myopia is a vision disorder in which distant objects are not seen clearly.
Symptoms
The main symptom of myopia is difficulty seeing distant objects, which appear blurry. As a consequence of blurred vision, headaches and fatigue may also occur. The higher the degree, the greater the difficulty in seeing distant objects and the shorter the distance at which one can see clearly.
Causes
Myopia is caused by an 'elongation' of the eyeball that alters the way light rays, which form the images of objects, reach the retina.
Diagnosis
Myopia is diagnosed through routine ophthalmological evaluations. The most well-known method is the refraction test, in which the doctor asks the patient to identify letters they can see and, using equipment, checks the effect of corrective lenses.
Prevention Method
There is no guaranteed way to prevent myopia or stop its progression. Some studies suggest that focusing vision for long periods on electronic device screens intensifies myopia.
Treatment
Glasses and contact lenses, which must be prescribed according to the person's degree, help correct the problem. There are also surgeries, such as LASIK, that alter the cornea to improve distance vision. Talk to an ophthalmologist about the recommendations for each case.
Duration
Myopia can accompany a person throughout life or until surgical correction of the problem.
Is it contagious?
Myopia is not contagious.
Can it be contracted more than once?
Myopia accompanies a person throughout life and sometimes worsens over time. Those who have undergone surgery may experience a small degree of myopia again a few years after the procedure.