Myopia

Myopia

hand holding glasses to eye chart

Myopia, or nearsightedness, means that your eyes can see close objects clearly but struggle to see things in the distance. Nearly 30 percent of Americans are nearsighted.

This condition usually develops in children and teenagers, up to about the age of 20. A teacher or parent might notice a child squinting at the chalkboard or TV. Other common symptoms include headaches, frequent blinking and rubbing of the eyes and failing to notice distant objects.

Causes

If the curvature of your cornea — the clear part on the front of your eye — is too steep, you will be nearsighted. Myopia can also be caused by an eyeball that is too long, relative to the lens’ and cornea’s focusing power. Light entering your eye will not be correctly focused, causing things in the distance to look blurry.

However, what causes these defects is still under debate. Heredity and visual stress are leading contenders. If both parents are nearsighted, the child is at higher risk. Examples of visual stress include excessive reading, computer use or other tasks that demand the eyes to focus on close objects. Note: Myopia due to close work is sometimes temporary.

Eye problems can also be symptoms of other disorders, such as diabetes or a cataract developing in the eye.

Testing and Diagnosis

Eye doctors test patients’ vision by having them read letters on a Snellen chart that is placed about 20 feet away from the patient. Your doctor may also use lighted instruments to determine the focusing power of your eyes. Sometimes, eye doctors use eye drops to dilate the eyes. This temporarily prevents the eyes from changing focus, so he or she can examine them more easily.

Once your eye doctor finishes the test, he or she can determine whether you have myopia. If you suffer from myopia, you and your eye doctor will discuss possible treatment options.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Eyeglasses are the most commonly prescribed and least invasive method of treating myopia. Depending on how nearsighted you are, you might need to wear glasses some or all of the time. If you also have trouble seeing things close-up, your eye doctor might prescribe bifocals. These let you see both far and close objects more clearly, and are popular with patients over the age of 40.

Contact lenses can provide a wider field of vision and may let you see more clearly. However, because they are worn directly on the eye, they need extra care and cleaning. Contact lenses are not recommended for those who are squeamish about touching their eyes.

Orthokeratology, also called corneal refractive therapy, involves wearing rigid contact lenses that reshape your cornea’s curvature. This therapy changes how light enters your eyes, eventually making your eyes focus correctly. The results from orthokeratology are temporary, and patients must continue to use these specialized contact lenses to maintain results.

Surgical Treatment Options

Laser procedures such as photorefractive keratectomy and LASIK have become more prevalent over the last few decades. With laser vision correction surgery, the ophthalmologist uses laser energy to remove a small amount of corneal tissue, thus reshaping the curvature of the cornea and correcting the refractive error that is causing myopia.

Highly nearsighted people may be better suited for another type of refractive surgery, including refractive lens exchange (RLE). The ophthalmologist implants a corrective lens directly into the eye. This lens is placed either right in front of the eye’s natural lens or it replaces the natural lens entirely.

Many treatments are available to myopic patients. Call our practice today, so we can help you decide which one is best for your visual needs and lifestyle practices.

Testimonials

Reviews From Our Satisfied Patients

  • I have been seeing Dr. William Berk for the last 20 years and have always received top notch service. Highly recommend Dr. Bill and his wife Dr. Anne Berk.

    - July 26, 2022
  • dr. anne is the best! she is really caring, professional, and hilarious. not many can make an eye exam enjoyable, but she and her staff are successful! :)

    - June 9, 2020
  • Love Dr. Anne! She is fantastic and so helpful figuring out solutions for seeing well in all areas of life! Thank you! Also staff is friendly and caring and was super happy to have photos instead of dilation and no more air puffs for eye pressure! State of the art!

    - September 22, 2022
  • I have been going here for over 6 years. They are thorough and care sbout your eye health. They also have great service. I definitely recommend them.

    - January 14, 2023
  • Great people great service been coming to them for 30 years😍

    - October 27, 2022
  • Getting new frames is always a painless and pleasant experience here. The staff are professional and friendly.

    - August 27, 2022
  • This place is awesome. Everyone is so nice and you feel like you are getting the best deal. This is my new eye place. The best ever. Thank you all for treating me with professionalism.

    - January 15, 2023
  • Friendly staff, welcoming setting, professional opinions, and great prices! Dr Kimmi is the best! Can’t recommend this place highly enough!

    - January 26, 2023
  • I really love all the people at HV Vision Source! The doctors listen to any questions or concerns I have & never give up on helping me. Thanks so much❣️

    - January 28, 2023
  • My Happy Valley Vision Source appointment went well. Dr. Chan was very helpful and informative regarding my vision requirements. I recommend them if you need eye care.

    - May 19, 2023
  • This was my first time at this office. Everything from the booking experience to the exam to the final payment was great. Everyone was very professional. I'll definitely be back and recommend this place!

    - March 10, 2023
  • The doctor and staff were great. Very knowledgeable and willing to answer all my questions and help me select a new pair of glasses. Thank you for the great service.

    - March 18, 2023
  • I arrived early. Only waited about 5 minutes. I ❤️ Dr.Nguyen. She's like a breath of fresh air. She diagnosed my issue quickly and I'm on the road to recovery! Thank you!😊

    - July 5, 2023
  • Completed my eye exam within an hour and everyone there is nice. Probably the best office I have been to throughout my life having glasses.

    - May 11, 2023
  • Wonderful experience, and very helpful getting my vision back to perfect.

    - June 9, 2023
  • I had the best experience here! I would recommend Happy Valley Vision Source to anyone looking for a new place to have an eye exam. I love my glasses and contacts and the staff was amazing!

    - May 23, 2023

Hours of Operation

Due to appointment demand, you may be charged a minimum $39 fee if you cancel or miss your appointment without 24 hour notice.

Office Hours

Monday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wednesday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thursday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Sunday

Closed

Office Hours

Monday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday
Closed

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