What is …

MYOPIA?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness or shortsightedness, is vision problem experienced by people who have difficulty seeing objects at a distance, but have no problem seeing objects near to them. What are the causes and possible treatments? Turn the page to find out!

Myopia ? According to our Health Promotion Board, Singapore has one of the highest prevalence

rates of myopia in the world, with more and more Singaporeans are getting myopic at a younger age. Studies have shown that the earlier a child develops myopia, the higher the tendency of developing severe myopia later in life. Undetected myopia before the age of 6 years old can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye) and eventually blindness in the affected eye.

When we see an object, the light rays from the object

enter our eyes. In a normal eye, the light rays fall on

the inner layer of the eye called the retina. However,

in a myopic eye, the light rays get focused in front of

the retina, resulting in blurred images. This is usually

because the eyeball is too long. Spectacles are

needed to help focus the light rays onto the retina.

What causes myopia ?

Myopia can be caused by a wide range of visual

activities done at a close range. A good estimate

for this would be activities done within an arm’s

length. This is especially if such activities were

done in poorly lit conditions and without

intervals for the eyes to rest. Such activities

include:

Reading

Writing

Using the computer

Playing with handheld games

Drawing

Painting

Sewing

Watching the television from too near the television set

Myopia should not be thought of as merely an inconvenience of having to wear spectacles, as

severe myopia may lead to complications which may result in blindness.

What are the treatments available ?

There is no known cure for myopia. Instead, various corrective measures may be taken to

perfect one’s eyesight. Currently, there are three main treatment possibilities;

Corrective eyewear

Corrective eyewear refers to any eyewear that corrects one’s vision. This includes

spectacles and contact lenses.

Atropine drops

When used daily, atropine drops can retard the progression of

myopia. However, this should not be a first-line treatment

because of its side effects (e.g. glare, loss of focusing) and

uncertain long term risks. Research is still ongoing in the use of

atropine eye drops in children.

Laser surgery Laser surgery such as LASIK shapes the cornea to act like a focusing lens. It does not cure myopia in

that it does not treat the elongated myopic eyeball. LASIK is not performed in children whose eyes are

still developing.

Help me prevent myopia !

Taking 3 to 5 minute vision breaks after 30 to 40 minutes of continuous close range work can help rest

your eyes. A good vision break is one that allows the eyes to focus on distant objects, although there is

no scientific proof that the colour green provides a soothing effect for the eye.

Also, while it is not yet determined scientifically that outdoor activities can prevent the onset of myopia or

delay the progression of it, there is emerging evidence suggesting that outdoor activities have a protective

effect against myopia. This is perhaps due to the fact that outdoor activities generally do not involve

continuous close range work as indoor activities do.