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What is myopia? |
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Commonly referred to as "nearsightedness", myopia is a condition in which
distant objects appear "fuzzy" or out of focus, while close objects remain in relative
focus. This occurs when an eye is elongated or with excessive corneal curvature.
Light from a distant object is brought to a focal point that lies in front of the
retina and results in distorted vision. According to the American Optometric Association,
this is a common condition that affects nearly one-third of the U.S. population.
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Symptoms |
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Difficulty viewing distant objects such as T.V., movies, classroom chalkboards,
etc.
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Risk Factors |
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- Heredity
- Age - generally develops prior to 20 years of age
- Excessive amounts of close, or fine work
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Treatment |
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Prescription eyeglasses and/or contact lenses are the most common forms
of correction for myopia. Other options include various forms of refractive surgery
(including Lasik, PRK, etc.) and Orthokeratology (a non-invasive procedure in which
the patient wears a series of specially fit RGP contact lenses in order to progressively
reshape the cornea.
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Prevention |
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Currently, there is no known prevention of myopia, although there is
a large quantity of research being conducted to understand this disease.
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