My Oh My Myopia

By Cela Migan | May 8, 2023

Almost half the world’s population will be myopic due to lifestyle factors by 2050, according to projections. Early intervention and detection in kids are the key to reducing the impacts of myopia.

What is myopia?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, occurs when light comes to a focus in front of the retina and we use glasses or contacts to diverge the light so it comes to focus on our retina.

An illustration of a regular eye sits next to an illustration of a myopic eye, which is slightly longer horizontally, and causes the light to come to a focus in front of the retina instead of on the retina. Glasses diverge the light so it comes to focus on our retina and we can see in focus.

Normal vs. Myopic vision

Myopia in children

Blue light

Blue light can cause diseases such as dry eye, cataract, and it can stimulate the brain to make you feel more awake and affect sleep quality. Some research shows that blue light glasses, which are tinted to block blue lights, are supposed to reduce eyestrain, eye damage and reduce the blue light effects that inhibit sleep.

However, the effectiveness of blue-light-blocking glasses isn’t backed by a lot of research and the lack of standardization regarding tints means you have no way of knowing which wavelengths are being blocked.

An invisible figure wearing a green fedora and sunglasses sees the blue light eminating from an old-fashioned computer.

It's not too late to save your eyes

Taking preventative measure can help combat the effects of myopia.

An illustrated yellow sun with sun rays coming off of it.

Sunlight causes more dopamine release in the retina, which slows the eye growth causing myopia.

Three text bubbles, with each saying, Look at something 20 feet away... For at least 20 seconds... Every 20 minutes..., respectively.

20-20-20 rule: Look at something 20 feet away... For at least 20 seconds… Every 20 minutes.

A bottle of eye drops reading 'bye bye dry eye' sits on the corner of a table.

To treat dry eyes, use artificial tears and make the effort to blink more often.

View a .jpg of this graphic.

Sources: International Journal of Ophthalmology Press, Healthline, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dove Medical Press Limited