Myopia

What is Myopia?

Myopia (or nearsightedness) is a vision defect where images are focused in front of the retina instead of on the retina. A myopic eye sees blur at far distances but clear at near distances. It is one of the most common refractive errors in the Singaporean population.

What causes Myopia?

In myopic (shortsighted) eyes, the eyeball is too long relative to the focusing power of the cornea and lens of the eye. As a result, images that the eye sees become focused in front of the retina instead of on the retina. The resultant effect is clear near vision but blurry distant vision. Conversely, longsighted eyes will have clear distant vision but blurry near vision.

At this point, there has not been a consensus as to what causes the condition to develop.

What are the symptoms?

Common signs and symptoms include:

– Blurred distant vision
– A constant need to strain eyes to look at far objects
– Headaches after long periods of reading or other visual activities (in school, in lectures, during work)

Who is at risk?

Myopia is extremely common in Singapore. According to a study done by the Health Promotion Board (HPB), ‘65 per cent among Primary 6 pupils, and roughly 28 per cent for those in Primary 1‘ have myopic eyes. As mentioned earlier, the exact cause of myopia is still uncertain. However, in many cases, it is genetic. That is, if parents develop high degrees of myopia, their children are more likely to be at high risk.

Can young children get myopia?

Yes. Childhood myopia refers to the onset of the condition at a young age. When this eye condition develops at such an early stage in life, it is very likely that it will worsen in the future. In such cases, it is important to consult an eye doctor immediately … …(read more)

What are the treatment options for Myopia?

Treatment options include the following:

– Glasses
– Contact Lenses
– LASIK (the gold standard in vision correct, 24/7 visual freedom)
– Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL) (long-term vision correct solution with excellent results)
– Cataract Surgery (‘4-in-1’ surgery that treats cataract, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia/lao hua)

A trained eye doctor will be able to examine your eyes and recommend a suitable treatment option based on your eye condition and lifestyle requirements.

Myopia on in itself is not considered to be a damaging eye condition. However, its degenerative effects on the eye may become a cause for concern in the long run. People with severely myopic eyes have a higher risk of developing retinal degeneration and glaucoma, conditions that can potentially lead to irreversible blindness.

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General pricing for first visits:
Consultation: $100-$120
Eye tests required depend on eye condition

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