Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common eye condition where distant objects appear blurry while near objects remain clear. It occurs when the eye is elongated or the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it.

Myopia can be mild, moderate, or severe. While myopia can develop at any age, it typically begins during childhood when the eyes are still developing and growing. Children with myopia often have trouble seeing the board in school or watching television from a distance, while adults may struggle with tasks like driving or recognizing faces at a distance.

While myopia may not seem serious, it can raise your risk of developing serious eye diseases later in life, including:

• Retinal detachments
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Myopic macular degeneration

What are the symptoms of myopia?  

• Blurry vision when looking at far away objects. 
• The need to squint to see objects clearly. 
• Eyestrain. 
• Experiencing headaches caused by straining your eyes.  

Myopia can have a huge impact on your child’s daily life. It can affect their academic performance, sporting activities, social interactions, independence, and even self-esteem. Fortunately, the team at True Focus Eye Care is here to help! We have years of experience in diagnosing and treating myopia in children and adults. We also specialize in working with children who have progressive myopia.

What are the treatment options for myopia? 

When someone is diagnosed with myopia, eye doctors typically prescribe glasses or contact lenses to help them see better. Because myopia can get worse over time and negatively affect eye health and quality of life, it’s important to schedule regular pediatric eye exams to screen for this condition. The earlier it’s caught, the sooner the doctor can create a personalized plan to manage it and help your child avoid potential eye health issues later in life. Some types of myopia can even be slowed down or controlled in children if caught early enough.

Managing myopia  

The first step to managing myopia is to schedule an appointment at True Focus Eye Care in Port Richey for a pediatric eye exam. During the exam, our optometrist will perform a variety of tests to check your child’s eyes, evaluate overall eye health, and screen for myopia. If myopia is discovered, our doctor will recommend the best treatment options to correct it and prevent it from getting worse.