Myopia (nearsightedness) is a common eye condition where nearby objects appear clear, but your vision is blurred when looking at things further away. Here’s what you need to know about this condition and how our Calgary optometrists can help ensure your vision always stays clear and comfortable.
Noticing changes in vision or prescription is a lot like witnessing your teenager is growing up. If you see them every day, you might be startled when you finally line them up against the wall to take their measurement. Changes in your sight and nearsightedness can take months to notice, even when it is pretty drastic unless you get a vision assessment or know to look for these critical signs.
Blink Eyewear is a leading eye clinic in Calgary. From treating common eye conditions, such as farsightedness and astigmatism, to detecting and managing more serious vision problems such as glaucoma and cataracts, we are your one-stop shop when it comes to your eye health.
Whatever your needs, our team of qualified Calgary optometrists has the training and experience to ensure your vision always stays clear and comfortable.
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Nearsightedness is usually diagnosed in children, teens and even into early adulthood. Nearsightedness means you have trouble seeing things far away but can perceive things that are close. There are a few key signs to look for nearsightedness in your child or teen that might be a giveaway that it is time to book an eye exam at Blink Eyewear.
If you notice your vision changing or are having trouble seeing things that used to be clear, it might be time for an eye exam.
1. Headaches
The first indication that you may have myopia is chronic headaches. Headaches can develop due to eyestrain when your eyes are overworking or straining to see things in the distance, for example. It could, of course, be a sign that you need a prescription, prescription adjustment or many other vision conditions; nevertheless, it is a telltale sign that you should head to the optometrist for an eye exam.
2. Your Child Can't Read The Board
Another of the most common signs of nearsightedness in children is difficulty reading things from far away, such as a blackboard at the front of the classroom. Many children will complain they cannot see the front and may have trouble keeping up in class. Similarly, suppose your teen has started practicing driving. In that case, you may notice they are having trouble reading road signs coming up ahead that you can see clearly. A regular eye exam will usually catch a deficit in seeing or reading from far away when in doubt.
3. Seeing Stars
A third sign that is more applicable to teens or young adults driving is if vision seems to worsen at night. This could be difficulty seeing objects or reading signs or lights appearing to have stars or halos around them, which will be more dramatic at night. As a parent, booking an eye exam for your teen is one way to help soothe your nerves when your child starts driving, although not entirely what we expect.
4. Eyestrain
Of course, if your child is complaining or tired, achy eyes, or seems to rub at them often or squint to see things, these are all signs of getting your child’s vision assessed. If your child cannot see things far away, they will squint or strain to compensate for bringing things into focus. Although this can help to an extent, it is exhausting on the eyes, and eyestrain can lead to headaches and sore eyes.
If you notice any of the above symptoms of nearsightedness, don't put off booking an eye exam. Aside from enhancing your child's ability to see, there are several other reasons to schedule routine eye exams with your Calgary optometrist. Regular eye exams play a key role in catching and treating vision conditions or even medical conditions such as diabetes promptly. At the very least, it is the first step to enjoying clear and comfortable vision and enhancing your child's life and wellbeing.
While you cannot prevent nearsightedness, there are treatment options available to effectively restore clarity to your vision. During a consultation, your optometrist can discuss your three main treatment options, which include:
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To find out more about how our highly qualified optometrists can provide comprehensive eye exams to diagnose and manage many eye conditions, such as farsightedness, astigmatism, or even glaucoma, visit one of our three branches, Crowfoot (67 Crowfoot Terrace NW, T3G 4J8), West Springs (1009 873 85 St SW, T3H 0J5) or Creekside (12192 Symons Valley Rd NW, T3P 0A3).
Alternatively, you can contact our team at our Crowfoot Branch (403-547-5417), West Springs (403-242-0999) or Creekside (403-516-2292).
What causes nearsightedness?
Nearsightedness is caused by the shape of the cornea and typically has a genetic component as it often appears in multiple members of a family. The condition usually begins to show signs during childhood, often getting progressively worse until stabilizing around age 20. There may also be environmental factors that contribute to myopia, such as work that requires focusing on close objects for an extended period of time and spending too much time indoors.
How does nearsightedness differ from farsightedness?
In myopia, or nearsightedness, the cornea is typically longer than usual, so light that refracts images onto the retina falls in front of the retina, causing distant objects to appear blurry, while close objects can be seen normally.
In hyperopia, on the other hand, the eye is shortened or the cornea is flatter than normal, which will refract the light behind the retina so that objects will look blurry, while typically objects at a distance remain clear.
Does nearsightedness become worse over time?
Myopia usually begins in childhood and may progress into young adulthood. Although it usually stabilizes until the age of 20, it may worsen slightly with age, as with many vision conditions.
Blink Eyewear boasts the largest collection of eyewear in Calgary, but our 3 locations are also home to the region’s finest optometrists. Just as you will not find a better store to shop for your eyewear, you will not find a better vision clinic to do your eye exam or treat your eye condition.
Go ahead and Blink; what you see is really what you get. Call one of our store numbers or fill out the form below to book an appointment.