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Myopia prescription
I posted before about how my myopia prescription recently increased quite significantly, and how my doctor said it might have been due to the fact that I didn't wear my glasses all the time for a while(my lens got cracked). Now my new Rx is quit high, -7.5 and -8.5. I have a contacts Rx of -6 in each eye and see 20/20 or better with them, but I can't keep them on all the time because my eyes get very dry. But when I put on my new RX glasses, I get instant headaches, and almost see things floating off of the floor because they are so strong. I know everyone needs time to adjust but its been over a week and I really cannot stand them. Should I ask for a dilated eye exam next time? Or should I just use my old glasses which I see quite fine in even if the lens is cracked a little? I don't want my myopia to get even worse because I am not using the right correction, please help!
The conclusion for the following study
Rose KA, Morgan IG, Ip J, et al. Outdoor activity reduces the prevalence of myopia in children. Ophthalmology 2008; 115: 1279–85.
was
Higher levels of total time spent outdoors, rather than sport per se, were associated with less myopia and a more hyperopic mean refraction, after adjusting for near work, parental myopia, and ethnicity.
For another study:
Myopia, Lifestyle, and Schooling in Students of Chinese Ethnicity in Singapore and Sydney. Arch Ophthalmol. 2008;126(4):527-530.
The conclusion was:
The lower prevalence of myopia in Sydney was associated with increased hours of outdoor activities. We hypothesize that another factor contributing to the differences in the prevalence of myopia may be the early educational pressures found in Singapore but not in Sydney.
There are other factors involved in myopia progression, but a fairly simple thing to do would be as these articles suggest and try to spend more time outdoors.
Rose KA, Morgan IG, Ip J, et al. Outdoor activity reduces the prevalence of myopia in children. Ophthalmology 2008; 115: 1279–85.
was
Higher levels of total time spent outdoors, rather than sport per se, were associated with less myopia and a more hyperopic mean refraction, after adjusting for near work, parental myopia, and ethnicity.
For another study:
Myopia, Lifestyle, and Schooling in Students of Chinese Ethnicity in Singapore and Sydney. Arch Ophthalmol. 2008;126(4):527-530.
The conclusion was:
The lower prevalence of myopia in Sydney was associated with increased hours of outdoor activities. We hypothesize that another factor contributing to the differences in the prevalence of myopia may be the early educational pressures found in Singapore but not in Sydney.
There are other factors involved in myopia progression, but a fairly simple thing to do would be as these articles suggest and try to spend more time outdoors.
No, don't look directly at the sun and certainly there is no need to purposefully expose the eyes to direct sunlight.
Just go outdoors, do something fun like cycling, swimming or shooting some hoops, and you'll also be doing your eyes a favour!
Just go outdoors, do something fun like cycling, swimming or shooting some hoops, and you'll also be doing your eyes a favour!
Ok thanks, you've helped ease me a bit with your comments. It's just that I feel very alone, I can't even talk to my parents about this because they don't understand what im going through and always say "oh I'm sure it's not that bad "
A review of factors causing myopia and progression of myopia was published in a recent issue of Missouri Medicine medical journal and authored by the famous Department of Ophthalmology of Children's Mercy Hospital affiliated with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. They have one of the few pediatric refractive surgery units in the world. I will post those articles to my blog as soon as technical problems with MedHelp.org are resolved.
JCH MD
JCH MD
In life, we've got to do what we've got to do...
Having said that, the evidence from epidemiological studies currently shows that it is not near work per se that is associated with myopia progression, but too much time indoors. So don't worry about the reading and computer work. It's probably a good idea to take a short break every 30-40 minutes, but near visual work is not a big factor in itself.
So in short, take regular breaks, and make sure that you get some sun everyday.
Having said that, the evidence from epidemiological studies currently shows that it is not near work per se that is associated with myopia progression, but too much time indoors. So don't worry about the reading and computer work. It's probably a good idea to take a short break every 30-40 minutes, but near visual work is not a big factor in itself.
So in short, take regular breaks, and make sure that you get some sun everyday.
I am in school to be a pharmacist and a lot of times need to do a lot of readings / computer work. Is this making my myopia worse possibly ?
Thank you for your reply. I called the eye place and asked for a full dilated exam, now my appointment is tomorrow. I am so scared they will end up finding a problem with my eyes like a retinal tear that possibly might be related to my increased prescription. Hopefully all will be well, thank youmagain
It is quite possible that your new glasses are 'overpowered'. At your age, the optometrist might have put too much 'minus' power but at the time of the test you 'accommodated' and compensated for the excess minus power. In such a situation the glasses would then turn out too strong. A cycloplegic refraction will prevent this overcorrection, but a careful optometrist can avoid this by a process called 'fogging' also, where they start with a lower power and slowly work their way up. Basically, you can get a second refraction/opinion on whether your spectacle power is correct or overcorrected.
With regard to contact lenses, if you are wearing permanent or monthly disposable soft lenses, you can try daily disposable soft contact lenses which are thinner and somewhat less likely to cause dryness. Another option are rigid gas permeable lenses, which are also less likely to cause dryness, but RGP lenses take quite a long time to get used to.
Don't worry about your myopia worsening because of a spectacle problem. Certainly you want a correct prescription so that your vision is clear and your eyes are comfortable, but there is no conclusive evidence that an inaccurate power causes the myopia to worsen. To reduce the chance of myopia progression, it is recommended that you spend at least a couple of hours outdoors each day (during daylight hours to get some sun) and perhaps to take regular breaks from prolonged near visual work.
With regard to contact lenses, if you are wearing permanent or monthly disposable soft lenses, you can try daily disposable soft contact lenses which are thinner and somewhat less likely to cause dryness. Another option are rigid gas permeable lenses, which are also less likely to cause dryness, but RGP lenses take quite a long time to get used to.
Don't worry about your myopia worsening because of a spectacle problem. Certainly you want a correct prescription so that your vision is clear and your eyes are comfortable, but there is no conclusive evidence that an inaccurate power causes the myopia to worsen. To reduce the chance of myopia progression, it is recommended that you spend at least a couple of hours outdoors each day (during daylight hours to get some sun) and perhaps to take regular breaks from prolonged near visual work.
Of course if refractive surgery frightens you then take it off the list. An optometrist or ophthalmologist can do a cycloplegic refraction. You will see better with contacts than glasses if you can find some you can wear.
JCH MD
JCH MD
Would I be able to live a normal life even without refractive surgery? I really am hoping to avoid surgery as it frightens me a bit. Also concerning the cycloplegic refraction, can that be done at any eye doctor's office or does it require a specialist too?
Yes given your age you should have a refraction done after dilation (cycloplegic refraction). I would also suggest you see one or two highly qualified refractive cornea surgeons to discuss refractive surgery options.
JCH MD
JCH MD
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