What is myopia?
Myopia, also known as near-sightedness, is when your eyes do not focus light correctly on the retina. In myopic eyes, the eyeball is long so the light focuses in front of the retina. This results in distant objects appearing blurry while nearby objects look clear.
How is myopia diagnosed?
Myopia can be diagnosed during a comprehensive exam with your optometrist. Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that the first comprehensive exam should be performed between the ages of 6-9 months as earliest signs of refractive errors, eye alignment, and ocular diseases can be detected and treated.
Are school vision screenings enough?
School vision screenings miss 75% vision problems. Therefore, early intervention with comprehensive eye exams is crucial in ensuring eye health. Even for infants, it is possible to detect early signs of myopia with retinoscopy. During this procedure, the optometrist can measure the refractive error and need for glasses. It requires minimal involvement from the patient and produces reliable results.
Myopia signs & symptoms
Common signs and symptoms of myopia are:
- Blurry vision at distance
- Squinting
- Eyestrain & Headaches
- Sitting close to the television or at the front of the classroom
- Blinking excessively
- Poor performance at school work
When to get eye exam?
Canadian Association of Optometry recommends eye exams at the following intervals:
- 6-9 months: FIRST eye exam
- 2-5 years: SECOND eye exam
- 6 years and older: Annual eye exams
