The eyes are the mirror of the soul. If the mirror does not show what we would like, it greatly complicates life. Poor eyesight has become a problem of the 21st century. But at the same time, modern scientific achievements help to solve these problems.
What is myopia?
Myopia is a disease of the organs of vision, characterized by a decrease in a person's ability to see objects that are far away. In people, this disease is often referred to as myopia. At the same time, the patient retains the ability to see objects located nearby.
With this defect of vision, the image of the object is formed not on the retina, but in front of it. A person suffering from myopia sees distant objects blurry and indistinct. The strength of the blur depends on what degree of myopia he has.
Classification
Reduction of visual acuity due to myopia is divided into several degrees:
- Mild myopia - the violation is up to 3 diopters. Examination of objects located far away is problematic for the patient, those objects that are nearby do not cause any difficulties.
- Moderate myopia - blurred vision from 3 to 6 diopters. To distinguish objects in the distance,a person needs special corrective means. The function of near vision will also be impaired, but he can clearly distinguish objects at a distance of up to 30 cm.
- High degree myopia - a violation of the refraction of the eye from 6 diopters or more. Objects located near, as well as far away, are seen poorly and blurry. A person sees clearly only what is in the immediate vicinity. Such myopia needs constant correction with glasses or lenses.
Moderate myopia
Despite seemingly relatively small deviations in visual acuity, moderate eye myopia already greatly affects the change in the fundus, provokes many complications. Such myopia must be corrected when the eyes look into the distance. Otherwise, due to the constant tension, the disease will continue to develop.
Causes of moderate myopia
The causes of myopia can be divided into congenital and acquired.
Congenital causes:
- Heredity - if both parents of a child suffer from myopia, then their baby is also 50% likely to be born with this problem. Therefore, if there is only one parent, then 25%, but which is also a lot.
- Congenital causes such as muscle weakness, incorrect size of the eyeball from birth. Such deviations occur even if no one in the family had them before.
- High intracranial and intraocular pressure. This reason for the development of moderate myopia can also be attributed to acquired causes, since it is not alwaysarises from birth.
Causes of acquired myopia:
- Failure to comply with the norms of work and rest in front of a computer, tablet, TV. Prolonged exposure to the screen keeps the eyes in constant tension, which negatively affects vision.
- Reading books and working in dim light, viewing gadgets in the dark.
- Vitamin starvation of the organs of vision. The best way not to get sick is to prevent the disease. If the eyes do not systematically receive the necessary vitamins, vision will gradually begin to decline.
- Often, people who start to lose their sight do not go to a specialist for the purpose of diagnosis, but go and buy glasses or lenses on their own, not knowing the true current “minus”. Incorrect selection of corrective means will cause constant eye strain and deterioration of their condition.
- Medium myopia can also be caused by brain trauma.
- Some infectious diseases cause a complication in the form of a deterioration in visual acuity.
Myopia symptoms
The development of a disease such as myopia may not be noticed immediately, as vision deteriorates gradually and many people attribute changes in the perception of objects to long work at the computer or fatigue.
Symptoms of moderate eye myopia:
- Blurred image of objects that are far away and at a distance of up to 30 cm.
- Objects located directly "under the nose", the patient is still able to see without aidscorrection.
- Squinting your eyes. When the eyelid is squinted, the sharpness of the image is enhanced, as the central vision increases due to the reduction of the pupil area.
- In some cases, protrusion of the eye occurs due to an increase in the axis of the eyeball.
Diagnosis of moderate myopia
Noticing one or more of the above symptoms, a person turns to an ophthalmologist. Only a qualified specialist can make such a diagnosis as moderate myopia.
He will:
- Special ophthalmic tests that determine visual acuity.
- Examination of the structure of the eye.
- Eye refraction studies.
- Procedures of direct ophthalmoscopy or biomicroscopy of the eye are performed when it is necessary to detect changes that have appeared on the retina.
- Ultrasound of the eye, if necessary, measuring the axis of the eye and the size of the lens.
- Measuring the length of the eye.
Myopia and pregnancy
Myopia is not a contraindication to pregnancy, but there are a number of risks associated with it. If the fundus of the eye with pathologies and the disease progresses, then during childbirth there is a danger of rupture or detachment of the retina. This will lead to a significant deterioration or complete loss of vision.
For this reason, the outcome of pregnancy with moderate myopia is most often a caesarean section. fin althe decision in this matter will be up to the gynecologist who led the pregnancy.
Myopia in children
Myopia is rapidly getting younger, according to statistics, 75% of its cases in childhood occur at the age of 9-12. The types of disease are the same as in adults. But there are reasons that are observed only at a young age:
- Myopia often affects premature babies.
- Eye injuries sustained during birth.
- Dramatically increased strain on the organs of vision during preparation for school.
- Common infectious diseases and their complications.
- Rapid body growth and active hormonal changes.
While a child cannot speak, it is not easy to detect deviations of the visual apparatus. For the first time, an ophthalmologist examines a newborn in the hospital, but if later there are any alarming moments, you should immediately consult a doctor. Childhood diseases are more treatable the earlier they are detected. You can talk about moderate myopia in both eyes if:
- At 3 months, a baby cannot focus on a bright object.
- At about 1 year old, the child squints, brings it too close to the face, blinks often when trying to see the toy.
- Up to 6 months in a baby, let's say the moment when the eyes look a little in different directions. If the strabismus has not gone away by six months, parents are advised to consult a doctor, as strabismus and myopia often accompany each other in infancy.
- At an older age, the child will be able to complain about what is badsees objects or has headaches, gets tired easily, feels discomfort in the eyes.
If myopia is not recognized in a child in time, this can cause a lag in overall development, poor academic performance, and the formation of complexes.
Non-surgical correction
In the treatment of moderate myopia, correction by optical means occupies a leading position. This happens due to the fact that the deviation from the norm of vision in this degree is still small and can be easily corrected by this method. It is also recommended for children and the elderly.
Pros of optical correction:
- Speed - in 10 minutes a good specialist will pick up the perfect lenses or glasses, teach them how to use and store them.
- Painless - glasses and lenses with proper selection do not bring any pain and discomfort in the eyes.
- Price - with this plus, of course, you can argue. The price of a pack of lenses is 20 times less than the price of laser surgery, but a new pair of lenses is needed every 2 weeks or a month. Laser surgery is done once in a lifetime. Accordingly, everyone will make a choice for himself.
Cons of optical correction can be divided between glasses and lenses. Children's and teenage complexes about wearing glasses are still alive, no matter how fashionable the glasses become. For this reason alone, many young people suffer and do not wear them.
The main reason why people are forced to give upthe use of lenses is allergy and hypersensitivity of the eyes. They also cannot be used in the presence of infectious diseases of the organs of vision. Some people wearing contact lenses are intimidated by the moment they are put on, they feel it hurts and is scary.
Laser correction
If the patient is tired of using optical methods of correction, then laser surgery will help him. Moderate myopia is easily corrected by this method, in contrast to the same disease of a weak and high degree. This procedure is recommended for those people who have a deviation from -1 to -15 diopters. The recommended age for surgery is from 18 to 55 years old.
The laser changes the shape of the cornea, and the image of the object will again fall on the retina, as it should be.
Pros of laser correction:
- Permanent result - unlike glasses and lenses, the laser will correct vision permanently, it will be good in all weather and temperature conditions.
- The speed of the operation - together with the preparation, it takes 20 minutes. The patient can go home immediately after a successful operation.
- Painless - an anesthetic is used during the operation. During rehabilitation, dryness and burning in the eyes are possible. In this case, you should immediately contact your doctor, he will prescribe moisturizing or soothing drops.
- Guarantee - the patient will receive perfect vision, if initially he did not have any deviations and contraindications.
Surgical correction
In some cases, when the cornea of the eye is too thin,age exceeds the upper bar and for some diseases it is impossible to make a correction with a laser. The question arises, how to treat moderate myopia in this case?
In this case, alternative methods of surgery may help:
- Replacement of the lens - your own lens is replaced with an artificial one through a micro-incision on the eyeball.
- Implantation of a phakic lens - a silicone lens is inserted into the eye, while maintaining its own lens. The operation helps those who have a thin cornea or other eye conditions that cannot be corrected with a laser.
- Corneaplasty - the donor cornea is transplanted and mimics the desired shape. This operation restores and improves the transparency of the cornea and visual acuity.
Consequences of myopia
When myopia of medium and high degree is neglected, serious complications develop:
- Vision in only one eye is called amblyopia. Correction of such deviation is impossible by standard optical means of correction. It manifests itself with prolonged myopia as a result of damage to the structure of the eye. In order to cure amblyopia, you must first eliminate the original factor.
- Cataract - with prolonged myopia, the ability of the ciliary muscle to contract decreases, there is a violation of the circulation of aqueous humor. The function of this moisture is to nourish the lens and regulate its metabolism. If a metabolic disorder occurs, turbidity zones form in the lens. Eliminates thisconsequence by surgery, by replacing the lens.
- Divergent strabismus occurs most often with myopia. In this case, the pupils of the eyes look towards the temples. When a person looks into the distance, the pupils of his eyes diverge somewhat to improve focus, but when an object approaches, the eyes converge. The distance at which a person can clearly focus both eyes is limited. There is a constant tension of the eye muscles, because of which, over time, pathological changes develop in the organs of vision. Before taking on the correction of strabismus, you need to eliminate the cause that caused it.
- With myopia, the eyeball increases in size. The retina is very sensitive and maloelastic, its regeneration is weak. The retina stretches with an increase in the eyeball, there is a disturbance in the nutrition of the nerve endings, and pathological processes develop in them. If the myopia progresses further, the retina may detach from the wall.
- When the degree of myopia is neglected, the blood vessels of the membranes of the eye are damaged. This leads to retinal hemorrhages and visual impairment.
Disease prevention
Before the question "how to treat moderate myopia?", It is recommended to study the information about what prevention methods are effective or will help with a disease that is just beginning?
- Gymnastics for the eyes every half hour loads on the organs of vision.
- Proper lighting only - do not work or read in dim or flickering light.
- Categorically notit is recommended to read in transport or on the go.
- Proper balanced nutrition with the obligatory presence of vitamins and minerals in it.
- The distance between the eyes and the work surface is at least 30 cm.
- As a preventive measure and reduce eye strain, eliminate dryness and irritation, a variety of drops are prescribed. With moderate myopia, medications based on vitamins and useful dietary supplements are prescribed. Their regular use can significantly improve the condition of the visual apparatus.
Moderate myopia is a serious deviation from normal vision, but with a doctor's surgical intervention and the right correction, it can be easily corrected. Like any disease, you should not run it and wait for complications to appear.
