Does Myopia Resolve on Its Own?

Does Myopia Resolve on Its Own?

Myopia 一 more often referred to as nearsightedness 一 is a common eye refractive error in children and adults. Myopia makes objects in the distance appear blurry, and unfortunately, nearsightedness is considered a global epidemic. Approximately 27% of the global population has myopia, and this number is projected to skyrocket up to 52% by the year 2050.

Myopia is the leading cause of visual impairment, so it’s only natural to wonder if it can resolve on its own. That’s the question that Nicanor Lacsina, O.D., and Yelena Pinkhasova, O.D., answer below.

Does myopia resolve on its own?

With myopia, the shape of your eye stops the light entering your eye from bending properly. If your cornea is curved too much or your eye is longer than normal, the light hits the front of your retina rather than on your retina, which results in blurry vision.

Unfortunately, myopia doesn’t resolve on its own. Myopia 一 often diagnosed in childhood 一 can worsen during the teenage years, when growth spurts (fueled by growth hormones) lead to vision changes. That being said, myopia can stabilize over the years. As the growth hormones slow down, adults between the ages of 20 and 40 don’t often experience such intense shifts in vision. 

Note: It’s still possible to experience vision changes as an adult, but the year-to-year changes aren’t as prevalent as during adolescence. 

Slowing down the progression of myopia

Research has shown that spending time outdoors can provide many health benefits for your eyes. According to a 2017 meta-analysis and systematic review, researchers found that spending 76 minutes outside each day reduced the onset of myopia by 50%. However, researchers noted that this benefit only helped reduce myopia from developing; it didn’t have the same impact on people’s eyes who already had myopia. Although spending time outside won’t reverse myopia, it does give your eyes a chance to focus on distant objects, which is good for your eyes.

If you already have myopia, there are many things you can do to help support the health of your eyes:

If you suspect that your myopia has worsened, don’t postpone your eye exam. Updating your prescription can help reduce eye fatigue, squinting, and the resulting headaches.

With over 20 years of experience in diagnosing and treating myopia, the expert team at Bainbridge Eye Care performs personalized and comprehensive eye exams for people ages 5+ living in the Norwood neighborhood of Bronx, New York City.

Get started by calling 718-306-9127 or requesting an appointment online today.

You Might Also Enjoy...

The Good News About Having Cataracts

Cataracts are extremely common, although initially, a cataract diagnosis doesn’t seem so great. Yet there are many positives to consider. Read on as we highlight seven positive aspects of having cataracts.

How to Prevent Diabetes-Related Blindness

If you have diabetes, you know that the condition can cause many body-wide complications. In this blog, we look at one particular complication: diabetes-related blindness. Read on to learn what you can do to reduce your risks.

What's Triggering Your Eye Allergies?

Eye allergies are common 一 although annoying 一 yet to find relief, you need to pinpoint what’s causing your allergies to flare up. This blog covers the most common triggers for eye allergies and what you can do about them.

7 Signs of Dry Eye

Despite the name, dry eye syndrome doesn’t just cause dry eyes. It can cause a host of bothersome symptoms, and being able to spot these signs is your first step in finding relief. Read on to explore seven signs of dry eyes.