Sudden Myopia at age 24

[ytret]

I've always had perfect vision but when I started to study more intensively (10 hours a day, at a close range) at age 24, after just about one semester (perhaps less) I noticed I had trouble focusing on distant objects. The condition got a little bit worse but then stabilized (I am now 28 years old).

It is not severe and I don't need to use glasses but things that I could easily read before are now a bit blurry.

I sometimes feel a very light pressure in the eye but I think that it is unrelated and caused by stress.

What could be the cause? Is it simply that I stare at books and computer screens all day?

Thanks for your time!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

you are welcome. BTW  some studies have shown that myopes have higher IQs and achieve more in academics than hyperopes on emmetropes (no glasses)
JCH MD

[ytret]

Thank you, I am very grateful for your answer!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The role of near tasks such as reading, computers, ipads, sewing, etc. in causing myopia has been studied for over a century but definitive data is not clearly established. It is fair to say that myopia is more common in people that do a lot of near work but it likely is not the only cause nor can myopia be prevented by preventing people from doing near work.

I was 24 also and in medical school when I started needing glasses for myopia.


JCH MD