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Myopia

Disease Details

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Description: Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common vision condition where close objects are seen clearly but distant objects appear blurred.
Type: Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is generally a complex trait with multifactorial inheritance. This means that its development is influenced by multiple genes as well as environmental factors. While specific genes have been linked to myopia, the condition does not follow a simple Mendelian pattern of inheritance. Therefore, it can be inherited in a polygenic manner, where the combined effect of multiple genes, along with environmental contributors such as prolonged near work and limited time spent outdoors, can increase the likelihood of developing myopia.
Signs And Symptoms: A myopic individual can see clearly out to a certain distance (the far point of the eye), but objects placed beyond this distance appear blurred. If the extent of the myopia is great enough, even standard reading distances can be affected. Upon routine examination of the eyes, the vast majority of myopic eyes appear structurally identical to nonmyopic eyes.Onset is often in school children, with worsening between the ages of 8 and 15.Myopic individuals have larger pupils than far-sighted (hyperopic) and emmetropic individuals, likely due to requiring less accommodation (which results in pupil constriction).
Prognosis: Myopia, or nearsightedness, generally has a good prognosis with appropriate management. Corrective measures such as glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery can effectively address the condition and improve vision. Myopia tends to stabilize in early adulthood, although it may progress in some cases. Regular eye check-ups are important to monitor changes and adjust treatment as necessary.
Onset: Onset of myopia (nearsightedness) can occur at any age but most commonly begins in childhood, typically between the ages of 6 and 14.
Prevalence: Myopia, or nearsightedness, is one of the most common vision disorders worldwide. Its prevalence varies significantly by geographical region, age group, and lifestyle factors such as time spent on near work or outdoor activities. In some East Asian countries, the prevalence can be as high as 80-90% among young adults. In the United States and Europe, the prevalence typically ranges from 20-40% among adults. The condition often develops during childhood and can progress until the eye stops growing in early adulthood.
Epidemiology: Global refractive errors have been estimated to affect 800 million to 2.3 billion. The incidence of myopia within sampled population often varies with age, country, sex, race, ethnicity, occupation, environment, and other factors. Variability in testing and data collection methods makes comparisons of prevalence and progression difficult.The prevalence of myopia has been reported as high as 70–90% in some Asian countries, 30–40% in Europe and the United States, and 10–20% in Africa. Myopia is about twice as common in Jewish people than in people of non-Jewish ethnicity. Myopia is less common in African people and associated diaspora. In Americans between the ages of 12 and 54, myopia has been found to affect African Americans less than Caucasians.
Intractability: Myopia, or nearsightedness, is not considered intractable. It can be effectively managed and corrected through methods such as prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery (e.g., LASIK). While these treatments do not cure myopia, they provide significant improvements in vision.
Disease Severity: Myopia, or nearsightedness, varies in severity based on the degree of refractive error in diopters. It is classified as:

- Mild Myopia: -0.25 to -3.00 diopters
- Moderate Myopia: -3.25 to -6.00 diopters
- High Myopia: -6.25 diopters or greater

High myopia carries a greater risk of complications, such as retinal detachment and glaucoma. Each level may affect daily activities and quality of life, but corrective measures like glasses, contact lenses, or surgery can manage the condition effectively.
Healthcare Professionals: Disease Ontology ID - DOID:11830
Pathophysiology: Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common refractive error of the eye where distant objects appear blurry while close objects can be seen clearly. This condition occurs when the eyeball is too long relative to the focusing power of the cornea and lens, or less commonly, when the cornea or lens are too curved for the length of the eyeball. This results in light rays focusing at a point in front of the retina rather than directly on its surface, leading to blurred distance vision. Myopia is often detected in childhood and can progress until the eye stops growing. Factors contributing to myopia include genetics and environmental influences like prolonged near work and limited time spent outdoors.
Carrier Status: Myopia, or nearsightedness, is not a condition for which carrier status is typically discussed, as it is not a recessive genetic disorder. It results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors that lead to the eye being too long or the cornea being too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina.
Mechanism: Because myopia is a refractive error, the physical cause of myopia is comparable to any optical system that is out of focus. Borish and Duke-Elder classified myopia by these physical causes:
Axial myopia is attributed to an increase in the eye's axial length.
Refractive myopia is attributed to the condition of the refractive elements of the eye. Borish further subclassified refractive myopia:Curvature myopia is attributed to excessive, or increased, curvature of one or more of the refractive surfaces of the eye, especially the cornea. In those with Cohen syndrome, myopia appears to result from high corneal and lenticular power.
Index myopia is attributed to variation in the index of refraction of one or more of the ocular media.As with any optical system experiencing a defocus aberration, the effect can be exaggerated or masked by changing the aperture size. In the case of the eye, a large pupil emphasizes refractive error and a small pupil masks it. This phenomenon can cause a condition in which an individual has a greater difficulty seeing in low-illumination areas, even though there are no symptoms in bright light, such as daylight.Under rare conditions, edema of the ciliary body can cause an anterior displacement of the lens, inducing a myopia shift in refractive error.
Treatment: The National Institutes of Health says there is no known way of preventing myopia, and the use of glasses or contact lenses does not affect its progression, unless the glasses or contact lenses are too strong of a prescription. There is no universally accepted method of preventing myopia and proposed methods need additional study to determine their effectiveness. Optical correction using glasses or contact lenses is the most common treatment; other approaches include orthokeratology, and refractive surgery.: 21–26 Medications (mostly atropine) and vision therapy can be effective in addressing the various forms of pseudomyopia.
Compassionate Use Treatment: For myopia:

1. **Compassionate Use Treatment**: These programs allow for access to experimental treatments outside of clinical trials. Currently, there is no established compassionate use treatment specifically for myopia, but patients with severe forms of the condition may explore options with their healthcare provider.

2. **Off-label Treatments**:
- **Atropine Eye Drops**: Though commonly used to dilate the pupil, low-dose atropine eye drops are sometimes prescribed off-label to slow the progression of myopia in children.

3. **Experimental Treatments**:
- **Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)**: Specially designed rigid contact lenses temporarily reshape the cornea to reduce myopia.
- **Peripheral Defocus Contact Lenses**: Experimentally used to modify how light is focused on the retina, potentially slowing myopia progression.
- **Multifocal Contact Lenses**: These lenses have different zones for near and distance vision and are being studied for their potential to manage myopia.
- **Pharmacological Agents**: New drugs, such as those modifying scleral and corneal biomechanics, are under investigation.

Consult with a healthcare provider for detailed information and potential participation in clinical trials.
Lifestyle Recommendations: For managing myopia, some lifestyle recommendations include:

1. **Regular Eye Exams**: Regular check-ups with an eye care professional to monitor and manage myopia.

2. **Reduce Screen Time**: Limit the duration of exposure to screens and ensure periodic breaks to reduce eye strain.

3. **Outdoor Activities**: Encourage spending more time outdoors as studies suggest natural light can help reduce the progression of myopia in children.

4. **Proper Lighting**: Ensure good lighting while reading or doing close-up work.

5. **Corrective Lenses**: Use prescribed glasses or contact lenses consistently to correct vision.

6. **Ergonomic Adjustments**: Maintain a proper distance from screens and books, and use ergonomically positioned furniture.

7. **Healthy Diet**: Maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins and nutrients that support eye health, such as Vitamin A, C, and E.

8. **Blinking and Eye Exercises**: Practice regular blinking and eye exercises to reduce eye strain and maintain eye muscle flexibility.
Medication: Anti-muscarinic topical medications in children under 18 years of age may slow the worsening of myopia. These treatments include pirenzepine gel, cyclopentolate eye drops, and atropine eye drops. While these treatments were shown to be effective in slowing the progression of myopia, side effects included light sensitivity and near blur.
Repurposable Drugs: For myopia, no specific drugs have been widely repurposed for treating this condition. Treatment typically involves corrective lenses like glasses or contact lenses, and, in some cases, refractive surgery such as LASIK. Current research is exploring various pharmacological and genetic approaches, but these are not yet standard treatments.

"Nan" appears to be shorthand or an unclear reference. If you meant "nanotechnology," it is an emerging field being investigated for numerous applications in ophthalmology, including potential treatments for eye diseases. However, there are no established nanotechnology-based treatments for myopia at this time.
Metabolites: Myopia, or nearsightedness, results from an elongated eyeball or an overly curved cornea, causing distant objects to appear blurry. The condition is primarily influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Specific metabolites directly linked to myopia per se are not well-documented, but metabolic factors related to general eye health, such as oxidative stress markers and glucose metabolism, might play a role. Nanotechnology is being explored for myopia treatment, including drug delivery systems and precisely engineered contact lenses or implants to correct vision or slow progression.
Nutraceuticals: There is currently no strong evidence to support the effectiveness of specific nutraceuticals in preventing or treating myopia (nearsightedness). Myopia is primarily influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Management typically involves corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses) or refractive surgery. Research is ongoing to find more effective ways to manage and possibly slow the progression of myopia.
Peptides: In myopia, peptides have not been standardly used in treatment or management. Current research may explore the potential role of peptides in eye health and myopia control, but there is no established therapeutic application as of now. Nanotechnology, on the other hand, has shown promise in various areas of ocular health, including drug delivery systems for eye diseases. However, its application specifically for myopia treatment is still under investigation, with potential future developments focused on targeted delivery and controlled release of therapeutic agents to the eye.