Myopia and farsightedness are common in children and adults. These refractive errors contribute to a distorted perception of objects far and near, and therefore cause a lot of discomfort. Treatment of diseases is carried out primarily using the laser method, and correction is carried out using glasses and contact lenses. There are also preventative measures.
What are myopia and farsightedness?
Statistically, myopia and farsightedness are among the most common refractive errors. Myopia is a vision defect in which the patient has difficulty seeing distant objects, but is quite good at distinguishing those that are nearby.
With farsightedness, or hypermetropia, the situation is exactly the opposite - it is not difficult for a person to see distant objects, unlike nearby ones.
Scientifically speaking, with myopia, the image is formed in front of the retina, and farsightedness involves focusing the rays behind the retina.
Most often, these diseases are encountered separately in medical practice, but it happens when a patient is diagnosed with myopia and farsightedness at the same time, no matter how paradoxical it may sound. The cause is usually a more complex form of the disease.
In what cases are myopia and farsightedness diagnosed simultaneously?
Many patients are diagnosed with only nearsightedness or farsightedness, and one or both eyes may be affected. In more complex cases, the simultaneous appearance of symptoms of these pathologies is observed. This is often associated with the manifestation of ophthalmopathologies such as presbyopia and astigmatism.
Presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness, is a disease characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of myopia and hypermetropia. This pathology is preceded by age-related changes. Presbyopia begins to actively develop after 45 years, when the lens of the eye becomes less elastic.
Symptoms of presbyopia include rapid visual fatigue, a feeling of insufficient lighting, and decreased contrast. Patients complain of difficulty handling small parts or looking at them up close. Age-related farsightedness can be present with low or high degrees of myopia.
In this case, the doctor prescribes the patient to wear multifocal lenses or two pairs of glasses (one for clear vision up close, others for distance).
Causes, prevention, correction of myopia and farsightedness
Myopia and farsightedness are diseases that have the same nature, but different symptoms. According to international statistics, myopia is one of the most common visual pathologies.
The disease can be hereditary, but in most cases it develops in adolescence (7-15 years) and subsequently becomes chronic. Myopia can progress or “freeze” at a certain level of development.
The principle of operation of a healthy organ of vision is that light rays that come from distant objects are focused in the center of the retina.
With myopia, the process is disrupted, due to which light rays are refracted in front of the retina and the quality of perception of distant objects decreases (the patient complains of a lack of clarity, vagueness and blurring). There are many reasons for the occurrence of this pathology. The most common are the following:
- Heredity. If one of the parents suffers from myopia, there is a risk that the child will inherit this pathology.
- Weakened body. At this point, experts highlight: insufficiently good immunity, regular overwork, previous infectious diseases, injuries during childbirth, etc.
- Visual fatigue. There is a high risk of developing vision problems during adolescence. This is especially true for representatives of the younger generation, who are systematically exposed to high visual loads. Studying (reading, writing, especially in poor lighting), watching TV, online games, computers, smartphones, etc. — together, these factors tire the eyes, and their abuse, which is now not uncommon, leads to undesirable consequences.
- Features of the shape of the eyeball.
- Poor conditions for visual work (inconvenient workplace).
- Avitaminosis.
Modern environmental conditions lead to the fact that the risks of myopia and farsightedness accompany a person throughout his life. Hypermetropia is often diagnosed in the following cases:
- Anomalies of the eyeball. With farsightedness, the anterior and posterior axes of the eyeball are deformed; during the diagnostic process, ophthalmologists often note a decrease in their size.
- Age factor. Almost all children are born with hypermetropia. This is due to the peculiarities of the formation of the visual apparatus. Such hypermetropia is not a pathology and therefore does not require medical intervention.
The first signs of farsightedness often appear in people after 25 years of age. The problem begins to become more pronounced by the age of 45.
These pathologies are diagnosed quite easily, but often patients present with the problem untimely. Ignoring symptoms for a long time contributes to the progression of deviations. Inaction in this case is fraught with a decrease in vision clarity.
Farsightedness is diagnosed in a patient if he:
- Has trouble seeing nearby objects;
- Complains of eye fatigue after a short time spent reading or writing;
- Often experiences a burning sensation in the eyes and headaches.
The signs of myopia are completely opposite. A person sees distant objects blurry or experiences discomfort when focusing at a long distance. To diagnose myopia and hypermetropia, you should contact an ophthalmology center. An ophthalmologist will conduct an examination and, if necessary, select the necessary correction method.
During the examination, the ophthalmologist:
- Determines visual acuity;
- Perform keratometry (measure the degree of curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea) and determine refraction (changes in the refractive power of the optical system inside the eye);
- Using ultrasound diagnostics, he will measure the length of the eyeball;
- Check the condition of the fundus.
In practice, ophthalmologists use modern equipment and all kinds of computer techniques, so after a short examination of the patient and taking an anamnesis, the picture of his condition becomes extremely clear.
Treatment
Drug treatment can only give a short-term effect for both myopia and farsightedness, so it is primarily preventive in nature. Taking eye vitamins: A, C, D, E can help improve vision.
They help to a small extent to alleviate the symptoms of the diseases described, but we are not talking about a complete cure. Sometimes the patient is advised to take various medications aimed at improving blood circulation in the visual organs.
But it should be remembered that only a doctor can prescribe the correct treatment and make appropriate appointments. Therefore, using medications on your own is strictly prohibited.
Laser correction is contraindicated:
- During pregnancy;
- During lactation;
- For glaucoma or cataracts;
- For diabetes mellitus.
Prevention methods
Prevention of myopia and farsightedness exists. Experts recommend following simple rules to reduce the risk of these visual pathologies:
- Perform visual gymnastics. Eye exercises will help improve blood circulation, reduce fatigue, and strengthen the eye muscles. The results of the studies showed that in this matter the main thing is not intensity, but regularity. That is, short but regular gymnastics will achieve a much greater effect than intense but rarely performed exercises. A good warm-up would be circular movements of the eyes, alternating gaze from side to side (up, down, right, left), frequent blinking. Select the right lighting. Reading, writing, working with small objects in poor lighting is harmful. Excessive eye fatigue provokes the development of unwanted pathologies.
- Every 30 minutes, take a break from working at the computer and do simple eye exercises. Refrain from reading while traffic is moving. In this case, there is a strong negative effect on the eyes. Firstly, the lighting in transport is not good enough. Secondly, vibrations and shaking are inevitable during movement - this leads to rapid fatigue, as the oculomotor muscles, as well as the muscles responsible for focusing, get tired.
- Balance your diet and lead a healthy lifestyle. Inclusion in the diet of walnuts, vegetables (carrots and beets are especially useful), herbs (parsley has good properties), fruits high in vitamins, a healthy lifestyle, moderate activity - all this will help prevent farsightedness. The visual system should be treated with extreme care . Regularly carried out preventive measures will protect your eyes - prevent myopia, farsightedness and other unwanted pathologies.
On Ochkov.Net you can profitably order popular contact correction products: Acuvue, Air Optix, Hera, etc.
Source: https://www.ochkov.net/informaciya/stati/mery-profilaktiki-blizorukosti-i-dalnozorkosti.htm
Prevention of myopia (myopia)
Every third person on the planet suffers from myopia. The incidence of myopia among the population of Russia and the CIS countries not only does not tend to decrease, but is also increasing everywhere.
About a third of primary school students are myopic and wear glasses. Prevention of myopia is necessary to maintain good vision.
If you look at primary school students, at least a third of them will wear glasses. Visual stress at school, all kinds of computers and gadgets, provoke the progression of this disease. And at the same time, as you understand, the number of serious complications that are directly related to myopia is growing.
That is why prevention of myopia becomes the most important tool in the fight against its complications and maintaining good vision.
Prevention of myopia in children
Prevention of myopia should be carried out from the very first days of life. With significant visual load at close range, the eye muscles are in constant tension, causing the eye to grow in length. The longer the eye, the higher the degree of myopia. Under heavy loads at close range, the eye muscles are in constant tension, causing the eye to grow in length, thereby increasing myopia.
Here are a number of specific actions that are necessary to prevent myopia in children from an early age:
- The first children's books should have large and clear pictures, which avoids visual strain.
- The child's room should be bright and well lit. You should not allow your child to play with small objects, look at pictures, or draw in low light.
- Teach your child to write and draw while sitting at the table. At the same time, be sure to monitor the child’s posture. The distance from the eyes to the table should be no less than the distance from the child’s elbow to his hand. The table lighting should be sufficient. Don't skimp on table lamps and wall lights.
- Television is not recommended for children under 3 years of age. Older children are allowed to watch TV for no more than 30 minutes at a time. And the distance to the TV screen should be at least 3 of its diagonals. All these rules apply to computers as well.
- The first books for independent reading should be in large print. Don’t teach your child to read lying down and don’t set a bad example yourself. If you really want to read before bed, sit in bed with something under your back. It is important that the distance to the book is 33-35 cm.
- During the first year of life, an ophthalmologist should examine the child in the first three months of life, then at 6 and 12 months. At one year of age, the child is examined with mandatory dilation of the pupils and determination of true refraction. Children at risk (myopia in close relatives, retinopathy of prematurity, etc.) may require more frequent visits to a specialist.
- Proper nutrition is also important for the prevention of myopia - vitamins A, C, carotene and calcium contained in dairy products are beneficial for the eyes.
Prevention of myopia in adults
To prevent myopia and its progression at any age, the most significant role is played by the correct organization of visual load, the so-called visual hygiene. We provide several effective rules for preventing myopia in adults:
- You cannot read while lying down, especially on your side, since in this case your eyes are at different distances from the text.
- It is not recommended to read in transport, since with constant movement the eyes have to focus every second on a new, changed distance, which greatly tires the muscular system of the eye.
In the prevention of myopia, an important role is played by creating comfortable conditions for work and study, as well as alternating visual stress with rest.
- Light plays an important role in preventing the development of myopia. It is known that visual functions, such as visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, sharply decrease in poor lighting conditions. Fluorescent lamps that imitate natural light are recommended indoors.
- There must be proper lighting directly on the working surface. The light should come from the left. The power of the table lamp is at least 60 W. The lamp should be covered with an opaque lampshade so that direct rays of light do not enter the eyes.
- TV must be viewed from a distance of at least 3 diagonals. It is not recommended to watch TV in complete darkness. Yes, when the external lighting is turned off, the image on the screen seems to have more contrast; after a while, the large difference between the bright glow of the screen and the dark background of the room causes visual fatigue.
- When working at a computer, it is advisable to place the monitor slightly above eye level and at a distance of 35-40 cm from the eyes. The font should be 12-14 sizes at 100% scale. If you print or read smaller fonts, increase the scale, and vice versa - if the scale is less than 100% and work at the computer for a long time, increase the font size. The contrast of images on the monitor is also important. If the contrast is low, your eyes have to work harder.
- Periods of continuous visual work should be limited. For every 40-50 minutes of visual load there should be at least 5 minutes of rest. With existing myopia, to prevent its progression, it is necessary to reduce the time of continuous work to 30-20 minutes (depending on the degree of myopia), and increase the rest time to 10 minutes.
- If there is an occupational hazard due to visual strain - working with monitors for 4 or more hours a day, working with small objects - it is necessary to undergo a preventive examination by an ophthalmologist annually.
Accommodation training
Accommodation is the process that allows the eyes to focus on objects located both at a far and near distance.
With significant visual load, the accommodative muscles are in constant tension. A so-called accommodation spasm develops, which manifests itself as a decrease in distance vision, simulating the appearance or intensification of myopia. If the accommodation spasm is not relieved in time, true myopia gradually develops.
Exercises and gymnastics for the eyes can be performed to prevent myopia right at the workplace.
There are a number of exercises for training accommodation and preventing the development of myopia, which can be performed even while sitting at your workplace.
For example, you can draw various geometric shapes in the air with your eyes. The most popular and time-tested eye gymnastics, developed by the famous ophthalmologist, Professor S.E. Avetisov.
Read more about this set of exercises in our article “Gymnastics for the eyes.”
It is important to know that eye exercises will be effective if performed regularly - at least twice a day for 3-5 minutes.
Sport as a prevention of myopia
Everyone knows the beneficial effects of sports on health and general well-being. To a large extent, this rule applies to eye health. A healthy lifestyle and active sports are an important factor in preventing myopia, especially running, swimming and cycling.
Ophthalmologists highly recommend sports that are most suitable for people suffering from myopia or as a preventive measure:
- Swimming
- Bike
- Run
- Fitness
Sports that involve lifting heavy weights, on the contrary, increase the risk of developing and progressing myopia.
Sports associated with constant head shaking, such as martial arts, diving, etc., significantly increase the risk of developing complications of myopia, such as retinal tears and detachment. That is why it is very important to undergo regular preventive examinations for myopia with a doctor on time, including examination of the retina with a wide pupil.
Source: https://www.vseozrenii.ru/glaznye-bolezni/profilaktika-blizorukosti-miopii/
Myopia - causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention
Today, myopia is a common eye disease throughout the world. Numerous studies have proven that more than 30% of the world's population suffers from the disease. In ophthalmology, it is considered a defect in which a person sees well all objects that are close, but experiences great difficulty when viewing objects in the distance.
This state was described by Aristotle, who drew attention to people squinting when looking at distant objects. More than a century passed until doctors carefully studied the causes, signs, and development of this condition, and developed various methods of treatment and prevention.
Statistics show that the number of people suffering from blindness has increased significantly over the past decades. More than 1.5 billion people wear negative optics. Young people suffer - students, schoolchildren.
The number of patients is constantly increasing due to stress, the rhythm of life, physical and psychological stress, and frequent use of mobile phones and personal computers. There are various types of abnormal condition, one of which is myopia.
What is myopia
This is a pathology or visual defect in which the image is focused in front of the retina. People with refractive error have a cornea with high refractive power, which leads to the development of a short focal length - refractive myopia; if the length of the eyeball is increased - axial disease.
In other words, a person sees well up close, but has difficulty seeing at a distance. Distant objects that a person looks at seem fuzzy, blurry, and blurry, since light rays from distant objects are focused not on the retina, but in front of it. In such individuals, visual acuity does not reach 1.0. It is recommended that they wear glasses and negative contact lenses.
The average size of the human eyeball from the center of the retina to the cornea is within 23.5 mm. A myopic eye is larger than normal from 1 to 7 mm, sometimes more. It is important that every 1 mm increase in the eyeball adds 3.0 diopters.
Is myopia a minus or a plus?
This is a minus. Let's figure out why together.
Sometimes the visual system focuses light rays more strongly, so they converge not on the retina, but in front of it. The task of contact optics in case of disruption is to scatter the rays of light, moving the focus further so that it is located exactly in the center of the retina. The person will see clearly, clearly.
To help people with deviations from the norm, ophthalmologists have developed special contact lenses that correct glasses with negative optical indicators. Is myopia a minus or a plus? Definitely a minus. To correct it, concave diverging glasses with a minus sign or negative lenses are used.
Myopia of both eyes
In many patients, twilight vision worsens. People who develop the disease in both eyes find it much more difficult to navigate in the dark. They are forced to constantly strain their eyes, which leads to the development of muscular asthenopia and visual fatigue. As a result, the symptoms of the disease are supplemented by headache, pain in the eye sockets, and the appearance of a feeling of aching.
The eyeball stretches, which leads to progressive pathology. As a result of thinning and stretching, the vessels become visible through the connective membrane.
A person has to constantly change glasses or contact lenses to stronger ones, because after a certain time they no longer correct vision, since they do not correspond to the degree of the disease.
Progression is often observed during adolescence.
What is false myopia?
The disease can be true, in which the eye itself increases in size, and false, called spasm of accommodation. Accommodation spasm is the ability of the eyeball to adjust itself to see objects located at different distances. False - a pathological condition resulting from overstrain of the accommodation apparatus in young people and children.
With the help of the ciliary muscles that are located around the lens, adjustment occurs. By shifting your gaze from a distant object to an object located nearby, the muscles either contract or relax. Lenses change shape, allowing images of objects to be focused on the retina.
When working or viewing objects at close range, the ciliary muscle is in constant tension. For good near vision, the lens has to take a convex shape. The spasm of accommodation caused by long work at close range does not allow the ciliary muscle to relax when looking into the distance. The optics of the eyes remain tense.
Continuous long-term work at the computer, reading, watching TV programs contributes to the development of spasms; bad light; non-compliance with rest and work schedules; poor nutrition, sleep. Spasm of accommodation is temporary, does not cause any anatomical defects, and is a completely curable disease.
A spasm of accommodation almost always goes away on its own after the cause that caused it is eliminated. If this does not happen, your doctor may recommend special eye drops that relax the ciliary muscle.
It is important to promptly identify the spasm and begin treatment. Proper effective treatment eliminates false myopia. Lack of treatment leads to prolonged repeated spasms and the development of true ametropia.
Causes and forms of myopia
When wondering what causes the pathology, it is worth noting that most often it is hereditary. According to statistics, if both parents have myopia, the chance of giving birth to a child with the same pathology is 50%, whereas if only one of the parents has myopia, the chance is no more than 10%.
Often the reasons lie in a banal neglect of hygiene requirements. These are: long-term, strong loads at close range; reading in transport; poorly lit workplace; incorrect posture, prolonged work at the computer. This is an occupational disease of jewelers and dentists.
The appearance of the true form is preceded by a false one, that is, muscle overload or other eye pathologies, for example, strabismus, astigmatism, keratoglobus, keratoconus, amblyopia. The absence or incorrect process of vision correction at the first symptoms of the disease will subsequently lead to overstrain of the visual organs and progression of the disease.
A positive impetus for development is provided by intoxications, infections, fluctuations in hormone levels, birth injuries, brain injuries, skull injuries, which create deterioration of microcirculation in the eye membranes. A deficiency in the body of such microelements as copper, chromium, zinc, and manganese has an adverse effect on visual function.
It is important to know - special exercises for training the internal muscles. Timely, effective treatment started at the first signs helps restore vision. Absence leads to muscle spasm, overexertion, and progression of deviation.
Symptoms and signs of myopia
For a long time, the anomaly remains asymptomatic. Signs in adults and children are revealed during a medical examination, but the person does not even suspect his illness.
The pathology manifests itself in poor distance vision.
A child at school asks to be moved to the front desk; people don’t see price tags, bus or minibus numbers in stores; It becomes uncomfortable when watching TV shows.
The progression of the disease occurs due to stretching of the eyeball; lengthening of the anterior-posterior axis leads to widening of the palpebral fissure and slight bulging eyes. The sclera becomes bluish due to impaired blood supply and translucent vessels.
The symptoms are as follows:
- blurred outlines of objects;
- impairment of distance vision;
- the surrounding world literally merges;
- At the same time, good vision is maintained at close range.
Patients with a high degree of myopia see well a few centimeters from the eye, almost right next to the nose. But, having taken off their glasses, they literally rest their nose on the object they are looking at.
Signs of the disease, when it is combined with other types of eye pathologies, are not only blurred contours of the image, but also distortion of objects and double vision. Depending on the degree, a person's vision can range from complete blurring of the contours of an object to slight blurring in the distance.
An obvious sign of a high degree, always visible to the naked eye to surrounding people, is the size of the eyeball, which is clearly larger than a healthy one. The thickness of minus lenses is very large, depending on the degree: the higher the degree, the thicker the lenses.
How to determine the disease?
The disease is asymptomatic for a long time. Therefore, it is mainly detected by ophthalmologists during medical examinations. More often, the diagnosis is given to school-age children, since this period is characterized by intense visual stress.
Diagnostics: how to determine myopia. The best option is to consult an ophthalmologist. A qualified specialist will conduct an accurate diagnosis and determine ways to combat the disease. In places where there is no specialist, there is a risk of receiving inaccurate information and causing damage to vision.
Typically, diagnostics are carried out without difficulty. The development of the disease can be judged on the basis of a decrease in distance acuity, in the absence of visible morphological changes in the lens, cornea, anterior chamber humor, or vitreous body.
The disease is determined by the doctor subjectively or using corrective glasses. To check, he prescribes ophthalmological tests, conducts an ultrasound examination of the visual organs, examines the structure, and examines physical and clinical refraction.
Clinical diagnostics are performed using a refractometer, physical diagnostics using an ophthalmometer. False myopia occurs when tension and accommodation spasm occur. To identify it, atropine is instilled according to the scheme. As a result, tension and spasm are reduced. Atropine cycloplegia is diagnosed as a disease in children of school and preschool age.
The nature of the disease is determined using an echoophthalmograph. The doctor makes a diagnosis - myopia of one eye or both; degree; scleral, isometric, developed, progressive form. A correct diagnosis helps to choose an effective treatment method to achieve good results.
Treatment of myopia (myopia)
It is important to start treatment on time. As the disease progresses, visual acuity will decrease, which can lead to complete blindness. It is impossible to cure true myopia on your own; without medical help, the patient will have it for the rest of his life.
Compliance with special rules and restrictions will help stop the progression of the disease. With a weak degree, this lifestyle is quite enough. A more pronounced degree requires the use of various correction or treatment methods, since the risk of complications increases.
Modern medicine knows how to treat myopia in adults and is capable of restoring vision to patients with a high degree, but only with timely treatment, as long as there are no complications from the retina.
For treatment and correction of the disease today they use: contact lenses; glasses; phakic lenses; surgery; lens replacement; laser correction; hardware treatment; vitamins; drops; drug treatment.
The very first thing is glasses. The most accessible, simple method of correction is wearing glasses with special diverging lenses. This method aims to weaken the refractive ray so that an image remains on the retina. The patient begins to see well into the distance, and at the same time the chain of pathological changes leading to complications is interrupted.
To prevent the disease from progressing, it is necessary to undergo twice a course of drug therapy every year.
These are mainly drugs that help strengthen the sclera - calcium gluconate; accelerating metabolic processes in the retina - ATP or Taufon.
To relieve accommodation spasms, Irifrin or Mezaton are prescribed, to improve cerebral circulation - Piracetam, Trental, Pentoxifylline, nicotinic acid. Vitamins of group B and C.
A high degree can only be treated surgically. The method includes classical, laser surgery. Classical procedures include sclera-strengthening and refractive operations. However, they are gradually becoming a thing of the past. Today, the most modern, safe method – laser treatment – is becoming more popular.
There are many basic methods for getting rid of deviations from the norm and returning normal vision; it is important to remember that only a doctor can prescribe treatment for the disease. If the pathology is not treated in time, it will progress. Trust experienced ophthalmologists, the recovery process will proceed without complications.
Myopia in children
Many parents are confident that myopia develops in children as a result of heavy school workloads, computer games, and reading books. It is at school that children, when their eyes begin to work actively, have trouble seeing the task written on the board. Myopia in children is characterized by the structure of the eyeball. With age, the eyeball gradually becomes longer and the disease progresses.
There are other physiological and pathological conditions that contribute to the development of the disease. Depending on the mechanism of development, a physiological, congenital form is distinguished in children. Premature children suffer from congenital, while physiological develops in children aged 5-10 years, during the intensive growth of the eyeball.
The diagnostic problem is that young children do not feel the difference between bad and good vision. Because of their spontaneity, they read, play on the computer, or do homework at very close distances. They accept this phenomenon as the norm and do not tell anyone about their feelings.
It is necessary for adults to be attentive to children, immediately contact an ophthalmologist if the baby: blinks frequently, squints, frowns, brings objects close to the eyes, complains of a headache.
Remember - without the correct adjustment, without appropriate treatment, the disease will only develop further. Children with myopia must wear corrective contact lenses or glasses.
Prevention of myopia
Prevention includes a set of various rules, measures, and restrictions that must be observed to prevent the development of the disease. It is important to know that if a pathology has already developed, preventive measures will not eliminate it, but will significantly slow down the development process and prevent the development of complications.
It is possible to maintain visual acuity only after correction. If there is a malignant or progressive form, then the further prognosis will depend on the presence of possible complications in the patient. The patient is not recommended to lift weights, engage in heavy physical labor, and work associated with visual stress should be avoided.
Precautions are aimed primarily at preventing complications at a high level. Prevention consists of developing vision hygiene skills and strictly observing them. You should also carry out general strengthening activities and special gymnastics to strengthen the eye muscles.
For preventive purposes, annual medical examinations are important. They are aimed at identifying people with disabilities. Persons with deviations from the norm are referred for medical examination to carry out preventive measures aimed at reducing the development of the disease and complications.
Basic preventive measures: correct lighting mode; physical, visual stress; gymnastics, rest for the eyes; full normal sleep. Prevention is important to maintain good vision.
Great importance is given today to the prevention of illness in schoolchildren: adequate local, general lighting; It is prohibited to read while lying down in transport; the TV must be at least three meters away from the eyes; book - at arm's length; If necessary, perform correct vision correction.
In adults, in addition to correction, such prevention is less effective.
Consequences of myopia
If corrected incorrectly or not treated in a timely manner, disease progression and various complications may develop. A long-term progressive disease leads to deterioration of blood supply to various intraocular structures, changes in the shape of the eyeball, and is the main cause of complications.
Complications occur mainly with a high degree; with a moderate or weak degree, the frequency of their development is significantly reduced. Myopia is complicated by cataracts; squint; retinal hemorrhage; retinal detachment; Amblyopia – nearsightedness of one eye.
In all forms, it is very important to carefully examine the peripheral and central parts of the retina so as not to miss dangerous dystrophies. There are only 5 types of dangerous and 5 types of non-dangerous dystrophies. One of the dangerous ruptures of the retina, leading to its detachment.
A high degree of myopia in adulthood leads to dystrophic changes in the center of the retina, which contributes to a sharp decrease in acuity and disability.
Source: https://prozreniye.ru/blizorukost/blizorukost-prichiny-simptomy-lechenie-i-profilaktika
Prevention and treatment of myopia
The basis for the prevention and treatment of myopia are specialized exercises - the task of which is to properly strengthen and relax the eye muscles.
Undoubtedly, to achieve the required effectiveness, they require a reasonable combination with general strengthening physical exercises, as well as systematic maintenance of a healthy lifestyle.
If the above mentioned conditions are met, there is a significant probability of expecting a positive result in the treatment of myopia, which is the secondary name for myopia.
Causes of myopia
So, this eye pathology means a condition in which various objects located at an impressive distance are distinguished by a person with great difficulty. In other words, with myopia, the image is focused not on the retina, but in front of it.
For this reason, objects located in the distance are not clearly perceived by a person, their image turns out to be excessively “blurred”. However, up close, such visual impairment is not observed. A person suffering from myopia sees surrounding objects quite well at a short distance.
The occurrence of myopia is caused by a significant discrepancy between the shape and size of the eyeball. As a rule, with myopia, its value increases, the eyes affected by the disease become more oval, retracted. As this discrepancy increases, the degree of myopia increases.
The following is a list of the main causative factors contributing to the development of the disease:
- Hereditary - a clear relationship has long been established between the presence of myopia in parents and the possibility of this eye pathology appearing in their child. For example, if both parents suffer from myopia, then the child’s chances of developing such a disease are very impressive, up to 50%. On the contrary, if the parents have normal vision, the risk component for myopia in the child is reduced to 15%.
- Excessively excessive load on the organ of vision. This is confirmed by the fact that the most common time interval for the development of eye myopia is considered to be the period of school and college classes. Young years are the age during which our eyes are at the peak of intense stress.
- The initial selection of glasses or lenses is extremely important. It is strongly recommended not to forget about the key rules of wearing glasses and strictly adhere to the recommendations of the ophthalmologist.
- Ignoring the basic basics of proper nutrition can also serve as a good reason for vision deterioration. Without fail, for the full synthesis of the tissues of the eye membrane, the nutritional diet must be significantly enriched with essential vitamins and microelements. In addition, they take an active part in the process of light perception.
- Vascular problems - with unsatisfactory blood supply to the eye, which can be caused by various serious ailments, for example, chronic tonsillitis, rheumatism, the likelihood of developing myopia in the near future increases significantly.
Symptoms of myopia
A key sign indicating the possible presence of myopia is a significant deterioration in visibility over long distances. In this case, the clarity of the objects in question becomes minimal. In order to stabilize the visible “picture,” a person begins to squint.
In addition, secondary signs of myopia include:
- systematic headaches
- increased visual fatigue
As a rule, the primary manifestations of signs of myopia are observed at an early age, in the range from 7-16 years, that is, while studying at school.
Recognizing impending danger is not a difficult task.
Pay close attention to the frequency of situations in which your child is forced to squint while looking at objects at a long distance. This circumstance can be considered a compelling argument for an immediate visit to an ophthalmologist.
Degrees of myopia
There are fundamentally three key degrees of the disease:
- weak - characterized by a deviation of vision from normal to three diopters
- medium - for it the range increases to 3-6 diopters
- finally the most critical, high degree - more than 6 diopters
A distinction is made between congenital and progressive myopia, in which lens power adjustments by more than one diopter are required after a year. This situation is extremely dangerous, as it is fraught with serious consequences, some of which require surgical intervention. List of possible complications:
Problems associated with the retina (dystrophy, detachment), since myopia, as a rule, entails its rupture. The degree of myopia is directly proportional to retinal problems - the higher, the more.
Myopia treatment
The therapeutic process for myopia involves classification into three key areas:
Correction involves the competent selection of appropriate diverging lenses, when the final decision on the prescription of glasses by the ophthalmologist is made based on the existing degree of myopia. If it is minimal, then it is permissible to exclude wearing glasses on an ongoing basis, and use them only when necessary.
The treatment process itself is a much more complex list of activities, characterized by an integrated approach to solving the problem. For children or teenagers, a set of specialized exercises that are aimed at strengthening the eye muscles is individually selected.
In addition, in conjunction with the above, vision-stimulating therapy, as well as restorative preventive treatment, are indicated for treatment. For example, a course of taking eye vitamins with lutein.
It is definitely worth mentioning one physiotherapeutic device, which harmoniously combines various methods of influence:
- pneumomassage
- infrasound
- phonophoresis
- color pulse treatment
Perhaps some guessed that we are talking about “Sidorenko glasses” - a unique drug, the use of which can have an extremely positive effect on vision indicators:
- blood supply in the vessels is stabilized
- moderate training of the eye muscles is carried out
- the effect of medications taken is enhanced
Among the undeniable advantages, the possibility of using it directly at home stands out, and there are practically no age restrictions.
Surgical intervention for myopia has become extremely widespread in our time. To minimize the likelihood of rapid progression of the disease, as well as to prevent serious complications, a rather complex operation is performed to strengthen the back wall of the eyeball, called scleroplasty.
To restore the functionality of the visual organ, laser correction is often used.
An operation to remove the lens, followed by its replacement, is one of the solutions to stabilize the quality of vision. This technique is effective for clouding of the lens in a patient with a high degree of myopia.
Prevention of myopia
Preventive measures aimed at preventing the disease are distinguished by an integrated approach to this issue. Here is a list of the main actions recommended by ophthalmologists:
- Properly carried out visual correction
- Course intake of essential vitamins, which must contain lutein
- Regular training of the eye muscles - more on this below
- Medicinal and physiotherapeutic stimulation of circulatory processes in the eye tissues and blood vessels.
- Physical therapy for myopia
In fact, the possibilities of physical therapy (physical therapy) in ophthalmology have not yet been fully studied.
With all the variety of existing eye pathologies, at this time, exercise therapy has found widespread use for myopia.
Physical therapy is indicated for almost everyone suffering from progressive myopia, in the absence of complications such as retinal detachment. The patient's age category is not a key limiting factor. It is worth noting that exercise therapy gives the maximum effect to children.
If, in addition to myopia, there are other diseases in the “arsenal”, for example, flat feet, curvature of the spine, then the need for use increases many times over.
Unfortunately, with congenital myopia, such treatment is a weakly effective means of combating it. It is strongly not recommended to use even if there is a slight risk of retinal detachment.
A significant criterion that fairly accurately assesses the effectiveness of the exercises used is monitoring changes in the main parameters of eye functions:
- visual acuity
- change in the level of accommodation reserves
With an increase in the above parameters, positive dynamics of treatment are expected. The foundation of the methodology of the classes conducted is based on the basic tasks of exercise therapy:
- stabilization of respiratory function
- improvement of blood supply processes
Exercises are conditionally classified into the following groups:
- Strengthening the external eye muscles
- Strengthening the internal eye muscle - the basis of which is the rotation of the eyes in all directions, as well as alternately shifting the gaze from a near point to a distant one.
- Eye self-massage
Recovery with the help of exercise therapy is a long process, lasting at least 3 months. Conditionally classified into two stages of myopia treatment.
The duration of the first two weeks is characterized by the performance of general strengthening exercises, with the gradual addition of specialized ones. The pace of all exercises is slow.
At the second stage, exercises aimed at strengthening the eye muscles are added.
Below is a set of specialized exercises, the intensity of which is strongly recommended to be increased gradually. The first two sessions should include only the first two exercises, and the number of repetitions is two.
Starting from the third lesson, the number of repetitions of the same exercises increases by one. After this, every three sessions, the number of exercises performed is increased by one (three repetitions). During the first two months, gradually increase the number of exercises to five. Then, the number increases to 7, five to six repetitions.
- Alternate looking from top to bottom (6 times). Next, the number of repetitions is the same.
- Move up – right – down diagonally – left
- Moving the gaze horizontally from the left corner of the eye to the opposite corner
- In a sitting position, perform rotational movements with your eyes.
- Blink intensely for a quarter of a minute (three repetitions).
- Close your eyes for a couple of seconds, then open them for a similar time interval. The number of repetitions is ten.
- Massage closed eyelids with gentle circular movements of your fingers for half a minute.
In all of the above exercises, it is necessary to strive for maximum amplitude, but at the same time without obvious pain. The pace of execution can be increased as complexity increases. It is better to combine training with a set of breathing and general strengthening exercises, not forgetting about strict dosing.
There is another exercise that perfectly trains the ciliary muscle. We fix a small circle on the window glass, a few centimeters in diameter. Next, an object of fixation is selected at the same level in the distance.
The essence of the exercise is to alternately shift your gaze from a circle fixed on the glass to a point located in the distance.
Initially, the execution time is three minutes, and later, every three days, the time interval can be increased by several minutes, gradually increasing to ten.
Finally, a few words about eye self-massage, which is performed by lightly pressing two fingers on the closed upper eyelid. The intensity of pressing is approximately fifty per minute.
In addition, it will be useful to blink and close your eyes at different frequencies and strengths. Start with 10 seconds and end with a minute.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the presence of myopia can be accurately diagnosed only in an ophthalmologist’s office, then the treatment of myopia will have a greater chance of success.
If symptoms of the disease appear, you should not go to an optician, since in many cases there you risk receiving incomplete information from an employee who has only primary knowledge on the correct selection of glasses and harming your vision.
Take an interest in your health in a timely manner, goodbye.
Source: https://life5plus.ru/domashnij-doktor/zabolevaniya-glaz/lechenie-blizorukosti.html
Myopia and its prevention and treatment
- Causes
- Treatment
- Prevention
Myopia is a common pathology of refraction in which parallel rays of light entering the eye are concentrated at one point (focused) in front of the retina. In people with 100% vision, the image is focused strictly on the retina.
In myopic people, either the length of the eye is increased - axial myopia, or the cornea has a greater refractive power, which results in a short focal length - refractive myopia. Typically, a combination of these factors occurs.
Depending on the degree of decrease in visual acuity, there are:
- Low myopia up to 3 diopters
- Moderate myopia up to 6 diopters
- High myopia over 6 diopters.
Causes of myopia. They can be roughly divided into hereditary (transmitted by inheritance), congenital (arising in the prenatal period) and acquired (arising under the influence of external factors).
Heredity plays a key role in the development of myopia, but it is not the disease itself that is inherited, but the predisposition to its occurrence.
The cause of congenital myopia can be congenital pathology of the cornea and lens, prematurity, hereditary pathology of the sclera, congenital glaucoma.
Myopia can occur due to diseases of the kidneys, lungs, ENT organs, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), endocrine system (diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases), connective tissue diseases (rheumatism), metabolic and vitamin disorders, various infectious diseases, etc.
In recent decades, myopia more often began to develop in preschoolers who, during their upbringing, had a high visual load in combination with a sedentary lifestyle, an unbalanced diet and a weakening of the body due to frequent illnesses (dental caries, tonsillitis, acute respiratory infections, etc.).
Signs of myopia: decreased distance vision acuity, which improves when squinting or pressing on the eyeball.
Complications of myopia. Progressive myopia is dangerous due to the appearance of dystrophic foci in the membranes of the eye, leading to irreversible loss of vision.
Tactics for treating myopia.
The main goal of treating myopia is to stop or slow the progression of the disease, improve visual acuity, and prevent complications. The earlier treatment is started, the greater the chance of maintaining sufficiently high visual acuity. An acceptable increase in myopia is no more than 0.5 diopters per year.
In the treatment of myopia, all methods are used in combination, which gives the best result. Thus, physiotherapeutic treatment is combined with medication and optical training, and with a high degree or progression of myopia, with surgery.
The first step is correct correction of myopia . If congenital myopia is detected, glasses should be prescribed as early as possible, because
In case of myopic disease, glasses slightly reduce the progression by reducing eye strain. In this case, glasses must be worn constantly.
This is especially important when a child develops divergent strabismus, in order to prevent the development of amblyopia.
For mild myopia, glasses are prescribed for distance viewing; you do not have to wear them all the time.
In addition to glasses, older children can use contact lenses, this is especially true if there is a large difference in refraction (more than 2.0 diopters) between the eyes, so-called anisometropia.
Drug treatment . It is prescribed by a doctor depending on the degree of myopia: these include vitamin and mineral complexes, preparations containing lutein, calcium preparations, etc.
Physiotherapeutic treatment , including methods such as electrical stimulation, magnetic therapy, laser stimulation, color stimulation, various types of accommodation training, etc.
Prevention of myopia.
Parents who encounter signs of myopia in their child should immediately contact an ophthalmologist to find out how much his vision has deteriorated. The child must be under constant medical supervision. This does not mean that glasses will be put on the child immediately.
To avoid further development of myopia and help the child restore his vision, it is necessary, first of all, to show great attention to him, to take responsibility for this problem upon himself, without transferring it only to doctors. Parents must remember that the child’s vision largely depends on their actions (or inaction) in a given situation.
Here are simple rules that will help preserve your vision.
Your eyes need a rest day . When we look at objects at close range: watching TV, reading, etc. the muscular system of the eyes tenses, the curvature of the lens and the shape of the eyeball change.
On the contrary, when we look into the distance, visual perception is facilitated and the muscular system of the eyes relaxes. That is why it is very useful to stay in a field, in a meadow, near a river, where a wide horizon is provided - this is a wonderful rest for the eyes.
For no less than 35 Visual work, which increases over the years, creates the habit of looking at everything up close. When reading and writing, textbooks and notebooks should be at a distance of no closer than 35-40 cm from the eyes. If this condition is not met, and if poor lighting and improper seating are added, then myopia inevitably develops.
More light! The eye needs good lighting to function properly. The illumination directly at the window is 6-8 times higher than in other places in the room.
Therefore, the study table should be placed closer to the window so that the light falls from the left. If work takes place mainly in the dark, then artificial lighting should be sufficient in strength, not produce sharp shadows and not glare.
The light from the lamp should not fall on the eyes, but illuminate only the work surface.
Reading while lying down is harmful. To maintain good vision, it is recommended to read at the table.
Give your eyes a rest often. If a child has good eyesight, he should take breaks from classes every 40 minutes. If the child already has myopia, then every 30 minutes. Close work requires a 10-15 minute break, during which the child should run, jump, look out the window, and do eye exercises.
How much time do you spend at the computer? A student can spend no more than 20 minutes at the computer. in a day. If the work is not completed within this time, break it into parts, and every 20 minutes. take a break.
Temper your child so that he gets sick less. Let him play sports: run, swim, play tennis, badminton, football. All sports are suitable where there are no head injuries that could aggravate existing myopia. If myopia is above 4.0 diopters, then sports activities should be coordinated with an ophthalmologist.
Vision treatment rooms in Yekaterinburg
Source: https://kudelina-ochki.ru/blizorukost/