Maybe road signs seem a little blurrier than they did a few months ago, or maybe your child needs a stronger prescription than they did after last year’s eye exam. Our team at Moses Eyecare Center can help you understand these changes, why they happen, and what you can do to slow myopia progression.
Myopia can worsen due to a combination of your genetics, your daily visual habits, and the natural growth and shape of your eye.
Factors That Influence Myopia Progression
Several elements can contribute to nearsightedness getting worse.
Your Genes and Family History
If your parents have myopia, there’s a greater chance you’ll develop it, too. Your family history plays a big role in how your eyes develop and change from childhood into adulthood.
How You Use Your Eyes
Your daily activities have a real impact on your vision. Certain habits, especially during childhood and young adulthood when your eyes are still developing, can affect how your myopia progresses.
Spending many hours reading or staring at close-up screens, like a computer or phone, has been associated with myopia progression. A lack of outdoor time in natural daylight can also influence your eye development, as some research has shown that spending time outside may help reduce myopia risk.
The Shape and Growth of Your Eye
Myopia happens when your eyeball grows too long from front to back. This change in shape causes light to focus in front of the retina (the back of your eye) instead of on it, making distant objects look blurry. As your body grows, your eyes can continue to grow too long, which might increase your prescription.
Why Your Prescription Changes As An Adult
While myopia progression often slows after your teenage years, your vision can still change in adulthood. If you notice your distance vision getting fuzzier as an adult, a couple of things could be contributing to it.
The Impact of Your Job and Hobbies
Many jobs require you to focus on a screen or on close-up tasks for most of the day. This prolonged focus can sometimes lead to shifts in your vision and contribute to digital eye strain over time.
Health and Lifestyle Considerations
Your overall health also influences your eyesight. Simple lifestyle habits, from staying hydrated to getting enough rest, support your general well-being, including your eyes.
The Role of Age in Myopia
Childhood and Teenage Years
This is the most common time for myopia to show up and progress because your child’s eyes are actively growing. That’s why at this age, it’s important to have frequent eye exams to keep their prescription current and to monitor their myopia progression.
When Vision Typically Stabilizes
For most people, myopia slows down in the late teens and early 20s, as the eyes stop growing naturally. Even after this point, you might still experience small changes.
Lifestyle Habits and Your Eyesight
You can support your vision by adopting some simple habits. These small adjustments can help your eyes feel more comfortable every day. Try to:
- Spend time outdoors: Natural light gives you a break from close-up work.
- Give your eyes breaks: Try the 20-20-20 rule, every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something about 20 feet away.
- Light your space properly: Make sure you have good lighting when you read, do homework, or work on hobbies.
How to Manage Your Vision
Regular Eye Exams
Consistent appointments help track shifts in your vision and eye health. An annual visit with an eye doctor in Northwest Indiana helps our professionals detect changes early and adjust your prescription if needed.
Different Options to Support Your Vision
There are more choices than ever for nearsightedness. From different types of glasses and contact lenses to other modern options, your eye doctor can discuss what might be a good fit for you.
In some cases, eye doctors may recommend myopia management treatments designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. New specialty options, such as Stellest™ lenses, are designed to help manage how light focuses on the retina and may help slow the elongation of the eye associated with myopia progression.
At Moses Eyecare Center, we offer both specialty eyeglass lenses and contact lens options for myopia management, allowing doctors to recommend a personalized approach based on a child’s vision needs and lifestyle.
A Partnership with Your Eye Doctor
Your vision needs are unique to you. That’s why a good relationship with an eye doctor in Northwest Indiana is so helpful. Our team can get to know you and your family to create a personalized plan.
Find an Eye Doctor Near You
If you’re experiencing symptoms of dry eye disease, the team is here to help. Our clinic proudly serves patients across Northwest Indiana, including Merrillville, Gary, Hebron, Lowell, Crown Point, Griffith, Glen Park, Winfield, Hammond, St. John, Valparaiso, and Portage. Schedule a visit to discuss your symptoms and explore treatment options tailored to your eye health needs.
