Myopia: The True Threat to your Vision

In this project, I will research all about myopia its dangers. I will also research about how scientists have designed lenses with different patterns that reduce the progression of myopia, as well as other solutions and their impact.
Tirth Shah
Grade 8

Problem

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is an eye condition found among younger children with developing eyes. It causes the eye to elongate, making light focus in front of the retina, instead of directly on it. This results in the inability to see objects farther away. In this research project, I will answer the following questions:

 

  • What is myopia, and what solutions are being created to slow the progression of this condition?
  • How do the patterns within a glasses lens affect the growth of nearsightedness?

Hypothesis

If glasses lenses use special myopia control lenses, then it will reduce the progression of myopia, because the patterns will make your eyes focus on central vision instead of peripheral vision.

 

 

Method

This project uses a qualitative research approach, and information has been gathered from different scientific websites, studies, and professional insights.To ensure credibility, sources were double-checked for reliability with other sources. Additionally, an interview with Dr. Dhanjal, an optometrist, was held to ask questions about the effectiveness of different types of glasses lenses and other solutions.

Research

Background Research

What is myopia?

Myopia is a common eye condition where objects that are closer to you appear to be clearer, but objects farther away are less visible. Nearsightedness progresses as your eye starts growing into an oval shape (originally circular). This causes light to reach in front of the retina, instead of directly on it.

Causes of myopia

Some common causes of myopia include: 

  • Reading close-up
  • Spending lots of time on a screen/electronic
  • Genetics
  • Other tasks done close-up that can put stress on your eyes

Why? Conducting more near work puts more strain onto your eyes. When your eye is focused at closer objects, you often blink less. After a while, your lens and the muscles in your eye alter after constant accommodations to see nearer objects. This causes the focal point (where light hits the retina) to shift, from directly on the retina to in front of it.

Symptoms

  • Blurry vision for objects in the distance
  • Squinting to “see better”
  • Headaches
  • Eyestrain (eyes get “tired”)
  • Blinking more/constantly
  • Rubbing eyes more than usual

Solution: Atropine Eye Drops

Atropine eye drops are a medication for your eyes that temporarily stop your eyes from focusing on nearby objects. Since myopia often worsens when you put more strain on focusing on nearer objects, the eye drops allow your eyes to be set on less stress.

Pros:

  • They are a reliable way of preventing myopia progression
  • The eye drops dilate (increase in size) your pupil, which makes it easier to examine your eye during eye exams, etc.

Cons:

  • The condition is only temporary and will eventually return to normal
  • Eye drops with a higher dose of atropine (1%) have a higher risk of side effects. A lower percentage, such as 0.01% or 0.05% are safer for your eyes

Solution: Laser Eye Surgery

LASIK eye surgery, the most common and effective type of laser eye surgery, changes the shape of your cornea to allow your eyes to bend light on the retina. In this type of surgery, the surgeon will cut open a layer of the cornea, and use a laser to trim the tissue in the inner parts of the cornea.

Pros:

  • You can get results very quickly (eyesight will improve early on)
  • The surgery and the results will show in a fairly short matter of time, whereas using eye drops or a special glasses lens slows down progression with use over a longer period of time

Cons:

  • The surgery is very expensive, in comparison to eye drops which are way cheaper
  • In Canada, you must be 18 or older to get this surgery, and the surgery has a lesser effect on older people
  • Chance of getting dry eyes, you could get diseases through the surgery

Solution: Myopia Control Lenses

Myopia control lenses are also a solution that purposely creates myopic defocus to signal the eye to slow down growth. The lens uses "lensets" that look like small bumps, which direct the light into many eye areas. The lensets are placed in a specific pattern, with an open spot in the middle for you to see clearly. The lenslets that direct light in front of the retina cause myopic defocus (the result of light in front of the retina; myopia), which tells the eye to stop growing (horizontally). At the same time, light is focused on the retina to reduce the impact of myopia.

The volume of myopic defocus (VoMD) is an additional feature in the lenslet glasses, which is how the lenslets are used to create a larger area of unfocused light (to speed up the process of myopic defocus and reduce myopia progression).

Pros:

  • These types of lenses are generally well-recieved and are currently the best method to slow down myopia progression
  • Your prescription will have a reduced chance of increasing, allowing you to keep a frame for a longer period of time

 

Cons:

  • Myopia control lenses are typically more expensive than normal lenses
  • More vulnerable to scratches and damages, and need good care
  • These lenses may not be available for all ages in some countries, as they are still fairly new

Prevention

 

Spend more time outdoors

 

  • Studies have shown that spending at least 1-2 hours outside daily reduces your risk of myopia. The light shining in your eyes allows your retina to grow at the proper rate.
  • The outdoor environment also requires you to look far away, whereas in indoor environments, objects are typically closer to your eyes.

Limit the amount of screen time in a day

 

  • Spending time on a screen (including your phone, tablet, computer, etc.) increases your chances of getting myopia. Spending time outdoors gives your eyes the right amount of UV light rays to stay healthy, but too much screen time will not keep the eyes healthy.

Keep a distance from closer objects

 

  • It is also important to use devices in properly lit areas and at a proper distance from your eyes. These environments can put more strain on your eyes, which shifts your focal point and boosts myopia.
  • Limiting the amount of close-up work you do, such as constantly reading a book close to your eyes, crocheting/sewing, and using your phone near your eyes, will put less strain on your eyes.

Data

This graph shows the increase of myopia rate from the year 2000 and onwards. From the graph, we can see that myopia rates are rapidly increasing. The lower and upper limits show the range of cases (in billions). It is estimated that by 2050, nearly 50% of the world’s population will have some form of myopia.

 

Speaking with a Professional

Raveena Dhanjal, an optometrist, was asked some questions about myopia and some potential solutions:

1. Why are certain lenses worse at reducing myopia progression than others?

It is not always due to the lens, it can also be how long you wear your glasses (or use other eyewear) during the day. Usually, you have to take off your glasses during the night, leading to less treatment while you sleep. Ortho-K contact lenses, as mentioned by the optometrist, can be worn at night and "fixes" the shape of your eyes for light to reach the retina.

2. How does myopia actually start in one's eyes?

It is natural for your eye to grow during your growing years. However, myopia makes it so that the eye does not know it has already grown enough, resulting in overgrowth of the eye (horizontally). The longer your eye gets, the harder strain there is on your eyes (due to light not reaching the retina correctly). This causes a higher prescription in your lenses. Usually, eye growth slows down during your mid-20's, but people with a higher prescription may face more elongation later in life, leading to other eye diseases.

3. In your opinion, what is the best solution for myopia progression and why?

Ortho-K contact lenses are currently the best solution for preventing myopia progression, as they can adjust the shape of your eye through signaling it to accommodate for the shape of the contact lenses. A major con is, however, that Ortho-K lenses are fairly expensive compared to normal contact lenses and require more "advanced" technology to be produced.

4. What are your thoughts on eye surgery?

It is recommended not to use eye surgery at a younger range (due to a risk of your eyes still being able to grow), which is why it is only permitted to be used for adults. It is also less safe for you to use laser eye surgery, because the laser will trim more off of your cornea depending on how high your prescription is. If too much is cut off the cornea, it could lead to damaged nerves, which might cause a higher risk of future eye diseases (less eye protection). 

5. What are your thoughts on contact lenses?

Normal contact lenses do not fix the stigmatism (shape) of your eye, which is why Ortho-K lenses are better. 

6. What are some main causes for myopia?

Myopia is often caused from too much close-up work, as it puts strain on your eyes. This includes technology, which is why myopia rates are increasing (due to more children using electronic devices), and staying indoors for longer periods. Going outside almost forces your eyes to look at farther objects (as not much is close-up), but less kids playing outdoors directly coincides with the increase of myopia cases.

Conclusion

After researching the significance of myopia, I concluded that my hypothesis was supported. The myopia control lenses use lenslets to direct light in front and on the retina, which signals the eye to slow down growth. Among the many solutions people have designed, atropine eye drops, myopia control lenses, and LASIK eye surgery are the most effective. These designs cause your eye to focus on farther objects instead of nearer objects, reducing myopia progression. In addition, after talking to an optometrist, Ortho-K lenses are also beneficial to your eyes, due to how they reshape the cornea and allow light to focus on the retina better. From the data, myopia rates will continue to increase as it becomes more common, but these solutions may be able to reduce the impact of the disease. To further expand my knowledge about myopia, I would like to test different designs of myopia control lenses and see how different patterns change the occurrence of myopia.

Citations

Sources:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank many people who helped me in the completion of this project. Firstly, I would like to thank my parents, who were always there to support me when I felt discouraged or not in the mood to work on my project. I would also like to thank Raveena Dhanjal, my local optometrist who answered many questions I needed assistance with. She allowed me to have a new perspective on myopia and its impacts on the world. Lastly, I would like to thank my science fair coordinator for choosing me to participate in the CYSF.