When it comes to describing your level of vision, there are usually three common terms; normal, nearsightedness and farsightedness. In this post, we’re going to describe what being short sighted means, how it affects people and also what can be done about it.
What Is Short Sighted and What Does It Mean?
The term short sighted is used to describe a condition known as myopia. The term “near sighted” is also used in some parts of the world to mean the same thing. This is a condition of the eyes that makes it difficult to see objects unless they are physically close to you. For instance, someone with short sighted vision will find it difficult to drive because cars and signs in the distance will be blurry. However, a short sighted person will have no trouble seeing things that are close to their eyes. The exact distance will vary depending on the level of myopia that an individual faces.
Short sighted people are very common. Studies report that there are approximately 2 billion people worldwide that experience myopia. The report also says that should the trend continue, half the global population may be short sighted by the year 2050.
What Causes Short Sightedness?
Short sightedness is most commonly caused by an eye that has grown too long. The length of the eye causes the light rays to focus at a point in front of the retina rather than on its surface. This results in objects appearing blurry when they are further from the eyes but generally doesn’t affect someone if they are focusing on something closer to their eyes.
Myopia generally occurs in childhood. There is a slightly higher risk of developing myopia if the parents also suffer from it. Myopia tends to settle in adulthood, but can usually continue to progress as you age.
A short sighted eye can lead to eye problems in the future. Uncorrected short sightedness is a leading cause of vision impairment, and severe cases of myopia could potentially lead to retinal detachment and other eye problems that could lead to further vision impairment.
Can Short Sightedness Be Treated?
There is currently no cure for myopia. However, there are ways to correct blurry vision caused by myopia by using glasses, contact lenses and laser eye surgery.
Glasses are the most common way to cope with myopia. The more short sighted you are, the thicker the lenses will be. However, high-index lenses can be used to reduce the weight of the glasses and thickness of the lenses to make them more comfortable to wear.
Contact lenses are a more discreet option for those that don’t want to wear glasses. However, they do come with more maintenance considerations such as cleaning them and taking them out before you sleep. You also need to pick between disposable one-day lenses to complement glasses or long-term contact lenses that can be left on even when you’re sleeping.
There’s also the possibility of laser eye surgery to correct short sightedness. This is considered a permanent solution to correct myopia but is not a treatment. In most parts of the world, laser eye surgery is known as LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis). LASIK involves reshaping the cornea so that light enters the eye and hits the retina correctly. The procedure takes no longer than 30 minutes but requires the patient to perform a regular care routine that takes several days before their vision fully recovers.
LASIK is generally only advised to people who are at least 18 years of age. However, as long as the patient has stable vision and healthy eyes, they might be a suitable candidate for LASIK. If they have other eye issues, then this may add complications to the surgery.
Book an Eye Test With Belson Opticians
If you want to find out if you’re short sighted, then the best thing to do is book an eye test with a professional optician such as Belson & Sons Opticians. We’ll perform a series of tests on your eyes to find out if you have myopia and the exact level that you are currently experiencing. This will help us determine the optimal solution for your eyes, whether that’s contact lenses, glasses or even LASIK.
Our eye tests are suitable for both adults and children, so if you believe that your child may be developing myopia, it’s best to diagnose it as soon as possible and provide them with a solution. Simply contact us today and we’ll be glad to assist you.