Myopia a.k.a. NearSightedness |
 Nope, this is not me...but I do feel this way sometimes... |
Nearsighted people, like me, have problems seeing distant objects clearly, although up-close tasks like reading is not much of a problem.
As myopia worsens, the distance at which you can see objects clearly becomes shorter and shorter.
Going about your daily tasks also becomes more difficult, especially without the aid of eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Personally, I dislike wearing eyeglasses (other than the occasional cool shades!). Contact lenses work better for me because I don't feel as if I have to put something 'on my face'. Then again, using contacts is not without its inconveniences as well.
In a nutshell, myopia occurs when the eyeball begins to stretch lengthwise, from front to back. As a result, light coming into our eyes focus at a point just before the retina. This is what causes the blur images we see.
Of course, the first thing you need to do is visit your eye doctor or optician to get your eyes checked and gauge the extent of your nearsightedness.
Usually, he/she will then prescribe you with a pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses that matches your degree.
If the myopia is very minimal, then it might be ok not to put on these eye aid all the time.
More often than not, at least in the initial years, people with myopia have to visit their eye care professional once every few months to get their eyes checked and get a new prescription.
But the condition will not worsen endlessly. For many, this eye condition will stablize at a certain point.
Here are some resources that might help you:
Personally, I will opt for refractive surgery instead. Such eye surgery will reduce your degree or allow you to see clearly without any eyeglasses or contact lenses.
There are several types of refractive eye surgery, the most common of which is LASIK. (For the geek in you, that stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis). In this painless, 5-minute procedure, an excimer laser is used to shape your cornea such that light entering your eyes can focus at a point on the retina itself.
The other methods include PRK (photorefractive keratectomy, similar to LASIK), orthokeratology (using special contact lenses to reshape the eye temporarily) or the use of corneal rings (also to reshape the eye, permanently, but reversible).
If your resources allow, I would suggest going for surgery. Can you imagine how nice it would be to see the world clearly without ever having to wear eyeglasses or put on contact lenses?!
Comparatively, all that money spent on changing presciption eye aid would have made up enough money, even for LASIK. Joanna and I are saving up just for that! Oh, so exciting!
Nevertheless, it is always best to consult an eye care professional and see what option is best for you, because individual circumstances always vary.
How To Improve Eyesight >> Eye Problems >> Myopia