Short-sightedness – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Short-sightedness refers to an eye condition where a person can see nearby objects clearly while far away objects look blurry or fuzzy.

The condition develops due to a refractive error, which occurs when the eye can’t focus light correctly. A person with this particular eye condition focuses light in front of the retina instead of onto it, which results in blurred vision. The retina is the surface at the back of the eye that gathers light and turns it into electrical impulses that the brain interprets as images.

It could also be caused by an abnormally shaped eye. Sometimes, a short-sighted eyeball is too long, or its cornea is too rounded. The cornea is the clear covering on the front of the eye.

While the condition is very common, it is also treatable. At least 30 percent of Americans are nearsighted, per the American Optometric Association.

Short-sightedness is also called nearsightedness or myopia.

Known side effects of short-sightedness

The side effects of short-sightedness usually include:

• Difficulty seeing objects in the distance, which usually appear to be blurry.
• Difficulty seeing while driving or having trouble reading road signs at night.
• Having to squint or partially close your eyes to see things clearly.
• Getting headaches due to eyestrain.

Risk factors for short-sightedness may include:

• Age – Short-sightedness is often detected when children are aged 8 to 12 since the eyes continue growing at this age. Some adults tend to remain short-sighted if they had gotten the condition as children. On the other hand, most adults become short-sighted because of some health conditions, like diabetes.
• Genetics – The condition can also be inherited, especially if one or both of your parents are short-sighted.
• Visual stress – This refers to eyestrain from doing detailed work, e.g., reading or using a computer.

Body systems harmed by short-sightedness

Short-sightedness may cause the following complications:

• Cataracts – Cloudy patches that form inside the lens of the eye.
• Glaucoma – Involves increased pressure inside the eyes.
• A lazy eye – The vision in one eye doesn’t develop properly.
• Retinal detachment – Occurs when a person’s retina pulls away from the blood vessels that provide it with nutrients and oxygen.
• A squint – A person with a squint has eyes that point in different directions.

Food items or nutrients that may prevent short-sightedness

The following foods or nutrients can help prevent short-sightedness or address its side effects:

• Grape seed extract – Fresh grape seed extract can help treat mild short-sightedness by enhancing your vision and prevent the risk of further damage to your eye.
• Powdered almond, anise seed, coconut, and sugar – Combining these four ingredients can help treat short-sightedness. Mix all the ingredients into a fine powder and consume the powder twice daily.
• Vitamins (A, C, D, and E) – Vitamins A, C, D, and E can help treat the condition. Sources include apples, carrots, fish, leafy greens, nuts, peppers, and tomatoes.

Treatments, management plans for short-sightedness

Treatment and correction for short-sightedness include:

• Corneal refractive therapy
• Corrective lenses – Corrective lenses include eyeglasses and contact lenses. These lenses help fix the curvature of the cornea or the elongation of the eyeball by changing the focus of light as it enters the eye. Some people have to wear corrective lenses all the time while others only need them for certain activities, like driving. Contact lenses often give patients a wider field of corrected vision, unlike glasses.
• Refractive surgery/laser eye surgery – Refractive surgery is a permanent treatment for short-sightedness. The procedure reshapes the cornea to focus light onto the retina. The majority of individuals who undergo refractive eye surgery don’t need to wear corrective lenses.

Where to learn more

• Look at Medicine and its Cross-Eyed View of Nearsightedness
• Overuse of electronics is causing worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness in children
• Prevent Myopia, Part I: The Cause
• The Risks of Spending Too Much Time Indoors
• Spending more time outside as a child linked to protection against nearsightedness

Summary

Short-sightedness refers to an eye condition where a person can see nearby objects clearly while far away objects look blurry/fuzzy.

The side effects of short-sightedness usually include having to squint or partially close your eyes to see things clearly and getting headaches due to eyestrain.

Short-sightedness may cause complications like cataracts, glaucoma, a lazy eye, retinal detachment, or a squint.

Powdered almond, anise seed, coconut, and sugar; vitamins (A, C, D, and E); and grape seed extract can help prevent short-sightedness or address its side effects.

Treatment and correction for short-sightedness include corneal refractive therapy, corrective lenses, and refractive surgery/laser eye surgery.

Sources include:

Healthline.com

BetterHealth.Vic.gov.au

NHS.uk

RemediesAndHerbs.com