Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is becoming increasingly prevalent both globally and in the United States. According to the National Eye Institute (NIH), the incidence of myopia in the U.S. has risen significantly. Among the population aged 12 to 54, myopia increased from 21% in 1971 to 42% in 2017, and it’s projected to exceed 50% by 2050.

Myths:
Myopia is not a disease. It can be fixed with glasses or eliminated through Lasik surgery.

The Facts:
Myopia is more than just blurry vision at a distance. It’s an eye condition that carries higher risks for serious eye diseases, which could lead to blindness. While glasses or Lasik surgery help correct distance vision, they do not cure or address the underlying condition.

What Contributes to Myopia and Its Progression?

• Genetics: If both parents have myopia, their children are at a higher risk of developing it. but genetics only account for 5 % of risk.

• Epigenetics, lifestyle and Environment:
  • Physical and emotional stress level
  • Daily exposure to full-spectrum daylight (outdoor light), 
  • Nutrition, vitamin D levels, calcium, collagen, dopamine levels,
  • Time spent outdoors
  • Visual hygiene: prolonged near Activities like reading, working on a computer, or using digital devices for extended periods without taking a break
  • Sleep hygiene:

These are the most important factors in treatment of Myopia progression 

• Eyeglass Prescription: The conventional corrective lenses may move images behind the retina, signaling the eye to grow. It only does harm than good. A pair of stress relief lenses are very helpful to stop myopia progression.

How Myopia Can Impact Vision and Eye Health

Any degree of myopia indicates the metal stress. There is a high incidence of anxiety, depression and other mental health problems in patients with myopia.

Moderate to high myopia can cause the eyeball to elongate, stretching the retina, the inner lining of the eye. Research shows that myopia significantly increases the risk of several serious eye conditions, which can lead to permanent vision loss, including:

• Retinal Detachment: 4-15 times higher risk in myopia
• Cataract: 2-5 times higher risk in myopia
• Glaucoma: 2-3 times higher risk in myopia
• Myopic Maculopathy (Macular Degeneration due to Myopia): 60 times higher risk in myopia (especially in those with more than -5.00 DS)

At the Academy of Vision and Learning, we offer natural treatment options to help control or even reverse myopia progression for both children and adults.