The Rise of Myopia: Causes and Contributing Factors

In recent years, the rise of myopia has become a significant global health concern. This condition, which affects an individual's ability to see objects at a distance clearly, is becoming increasingly prevalent among both adults and children. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050, almost half of the world's population will have myopia. This alarming increase has motivated extensive research into understanding the causes, contributing factors, and management strategies.
 

Understanding Myopia

Myopia is a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurred while close objects can be seen clearly. This condition occurs when the eyeball grows too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it.
 

The onset of myopia generally occurs during childhood and continues to progress until early adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty seeing distant objects, squinting, eye strain, and headaches. It is diagnosed through a routine eye examination, which includes a refraction assessment and eye health examination.
 

Unpacking the Causes of Myopia

The exact cause of myopia is not known, but it is generally agreed that it is a result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The eye grows throughout childhood, but in myopes, this growth is excessive, leading to an elongation of the eyeball. This elongation causes light entering the eye to focus in front of the retina, leading to a blurred image.
 

Research has shown that myopia tends to run in families. If both parents are myopic, there is a higher chance of their children developing the condition.
 

Factors Contributing to the Rise of Myopia

To understand the steep rise of myopia, we must look beyond genetics and consider the environmental factors that have changed in recent years. Extensive research points to lifestyle changes, particularly in terms of education and outdoor activity, as significant contributing factors.
 

Firstly, increased near work activities such as reading, writing, and screen time have been linked to the rise of myopia. These activities require the eye to focus on near objects for prolonged periods, which may stimulate the excessive eyeball growth associated with myopia.
 

Secondly, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that lack of time spent outdoors is a contributing factor to myopia. Natural outdoor light may play a crucial role in regulating eye growth during childhood. Therefore, children who spend fewer hours outdoors may have an increased risk of developing myopia.
 

Management of Myopia

Managing myopia has evolved with the advent of various non-surgical options that aim to slow its progression. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) involves wearing specially designed gas-permeable contact lenses overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea, allowing for clear daytime vision without additional corrective lenses. 
 

Atropine eye drops, used in low doses, have been found to slow myopia progression by relaxing the eye's focusing mechanism, reducing the strain that contributes to the worsening of nearsightedness. 
 

Multifocal or MiSight Dual Focus contact lenses  , which provide different levels of prescription strength across the lens, help in correcting near vision and reducing strain on the eye, potentially slowing the progression of myopia.
 

Each of these methods targets the underlying mechanisms that contribute to myopia development, offering personalized and effective management strategies that can significantly impact long-term eye health and visual acuity.
 

Conclusion

The rise of myopia is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors. While genetic predisposition plays a role, lifestyle changes such as increased near work activities and decreased outdoor time seem to be significant contributors. As we continue to understand this condition better, it is crucial to focus on prevention and management strategies.
 

Dr. Laurence Wong has been providing myopia management care to pediatric patients for over 10 years.  For more information on the causes of myopia and effective management options, contact Vision One Eyecare in our Katy, Texas office Please call or text (281) 395-2010 to schedule an appointment today.