Short sightedness or myopia is the inability to see distant objects clearly without presciption glasses or contact lenses. It is a serious health care issue in Singapore with over 80 % of the population suffering from the condition.
In general, it is due to the elongation of the eyeball resulting in light rays focussing in front of the retina. It usually starts in childhood and stabilizes in the 20s.
It can be associated with other eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment. No one really knows the exact cause of myopia but it is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
It is thought that risk factors include excessive near work, a family history of myopia and insufficient time spent outdoors. The ATOM 1 & 2 (Atropine Treatment of Myopia) trials in Singapore showed that low dose Atropine 0.01% eyedrops reduced the progression of myopia by 60% without having any side effects like glare, photophobia and near visual blur.
March of Myopia’ from Nature News and Comment, June 1, 2015
