Myopia is the technical term for short-sightedness. With this defective vision, the total refractive power of the eye does not correspond to the anatomical structure of the eye, so that no sharp image is formed in the center of the retina. The structure of the eye is too long in relation to the retina, so that the image is imaginary in front of the retina but blurred on the retina. As a result, the myopic patient's vision is blurred at a distance. At close range, however, a short-sighted person can see clearly.
Figure: Schematic representation of a short-sighted eye. When looking at objects in the distance (black rays), there is no sharp image on the retina; when looking at objects close up, there is a sharp image (blue rays).
The development of myopia is essentially genetically pre-programmed - it is therefore usually inherited. However, there are probably also environmental factors that play a role in the development or aggravation of myopia. For example, it is being discussed that a strong and frequent stimulus for near vision, e.g. reading a lot, can promote the development of myopia. There is also scientific evidence that children who sleep with the light on at night are more likely to develop myopia than children who do not have a light on at night.
Overall, the growth in the length of the eye is above average in short-sighted children. In the course of life, there are also circumstances that can lead to an increase in the refractive power of the lens due to a change in the composition of the lens. This can also lead to short-sightedness. These can be, for example, remodeling processes as the lens ages or when cataracts begin to develop. Hormone fluctuations (e.g. during pregnancy) can also lead to changes in the refractive power of the lens, as can fluctuations in blood sugar levels in diabetes.
Myopia is noticeable because the image in the distance is blurred. Objects are often held rather close to the eye. In children, the symptoms may not be noticeable. In schoolchildren, it may be noticeable that the texts on the blackboard are not recognized. Sometimes non-specific complaints such as headaches are also an expression of refractive errors of the eye.
The diagnosis can be made and confirmed by an ophthalmologist. To do this, the eyes are measured and refracted (different lenses are held in front of the eye).
The first choice for treating myopia is to wear glasses. Care should be taken, especially with children, to ensure that the glasses are suitable for everyday use and sports. Alternatively, contact lenses can be used to correct myopia. It is essential to ensure that the contact lenses are handled reliably, especially with regard to cleaning and hygiene. In addition, hard contact lenses are preferable to soft contact lenses. Hard contact lenses are gentler on the eyes than soft contact lenses, even if they are much more difficult to get used to. There is also evidence that hard contact lenses can counteract this development if myopia increases significantly. However, hard contact lenses are not suitable for occasional wear (e.g. for sport). In this case, daily disposable lenses should be preferred.
Surgical treatment
In principle, operations to correct short-sightedness on the cornea or lens are also possible. This is called refractive surgery. The prerequisite for this should be stable myopia values. In addition, the eyes must be carefully examined beforehand to determine whether such an operation is an option.
Short-sightedness cannot be reversed spontaneously. It can be managed well with aids (glasses or contact lenses) in everyday life, and treatment is also possible with surgery. However, an increase in short-sightedness in the course of life, primarily up to the age of 30, cannot be ruled out even after surgery.
When choosing aids or refractive surgery, it is essential to consider suitability for sport. In the case of glasses, this primarily concerns the material of the lenses and the design of the temples and frame. There are special sports glasses that you can find out about from your optician. When it comes to contact lenses, soft daily lenses are particularly suitable. With regard to surgery to correct short-sightedness, there are differences in suitability for sport. Contact sports in particular (e.g. boxing) could pose a risk to the eye after a so-called LASIK procedure (in which a "lid" of the cornea is prepared before the correction is carried out with the laser).
