Will nearsightedness be inherited?

Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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Myopia has a certain hereditary aspect, but it is mainly caused by improper use of the eyes. Myopia is characterized by clear near vision and blurred distant vision, primarily due to changes in the eye's axial length. After the onset of myopia, it is crucial to properly dilate the pupils and conduct an optometric examination to rule out false myopia and amblyopia. Currently, the main treatments for myopia are still corrective glasses or orthokeratology lenses. Surgical treatment can also be considered for individuals aged 20 to 45. Once myopia develops, proper eye usage should be practiced, reducing close-range activities to avoid eye strain, and regular follow-ups are advised.

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Written by Zhou Qing
Ophthalmology
1min 57sec home-news-image

How to treat high myopia?

High myopia refers to a degree of nearsightedness above 1000 degrees. High myopia brings great troubles to people, even affecting their diet and preventing them from participating in high-intensity physical exercise. It may also lead to complications such as retinal detachment, cataracts, macular hemorrhage, macular degeneration, vitreous liquefaction degeneration, and glaucoma. The treatment of high myopia has always been a major challenge in ophthalmology. With the advent of refractive lens exchange surgery, after extensive clinical practice, it has now become a better option for correcting vision in patients with extremely high myopia. The refractive state of the eyeball is mainly determined by the refractive power of the eyeball and the length of the eye axis. In cases of nearsightedness, the lengthening of the eye axis causes the light to focus in front of the retina, making it difficult for patients to see distant objects clearly. During refractive lens exchange surgery, a concave lens specifically tailored to the patient is implanted into the eyeball to change the focal point of the light so that it accurately focuses on the retina, achieving the purpose of correcting nearsightedness. Refractive lens exchange surgery maintains the integrity and accommodative function of the eye's physiological structure, has a larger optical zone, eliminates aberrations, and has a wider range of adaptability compared to corneal refractive surgery. Post-surgery, patients experience less discomfort, faster vision recovery, stable refraction, and no regression phenomenon.

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Written by Wang Fang
Ophthalmology
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Can eye fatigue cause nearsightedness?

Eye fatigue can exacerbate myopia, and it is an important factor in worsening nearsightedness. When the eyes look into the distance, they are in a completely relaxed state, which does not cause or worsen myopia. Myopia occurs due to near-distance eye activities. Prolonged close-distance eye activities and working too closely can lead to chronic fatigue in the external eye muscles. When this happens, the eye axis is stretched and, over time, cannot fully return to its original state, resulting in the onset or worsening of myopia. Therefore, during daily eye use, it is essential to avoid excessive duration and too close distances to prevent fatigue and thus avoid worsening myopia.

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Written by Wang Hui Zhen
Ophthalmology
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Is it good to apply heat to the eyes every day for myopia?

Applying heat to the eyes every day cannot control myopia, but it can slightly relieve eye fatigue, dryness, and other discomforts. Myopia occurs when parallel rays of light enter the eye and focus in front of the retina through the eye's refractive system, failing to form a clear image on the retina. If myopia is pseudomyopia, it might recover through rest, relaxation, and pupil dilation. However, if it progresses to true myopia, it becomes irreversible and incurable; vision can only be corrected and its progression controlled. Before the age of 18, myopia can be corrected with glasses or orthokeratology lenses. After turning 18, corrective surgery for myopia might be an option. It is advised that adolescents and children actively control the progression of myopia.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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Should the degree of myopia sunglasses be the same as the degree of myopia?

If you want to customize sunglasses or photochromic glasses with a prescription, the prescription should be exactly the same as that used for regular prescription glasses. The main purpose of these glasses is to protect the eyes from direct exposure to light, which can lead to excessive eye strain and cause symptoms like eye fatigue, pain, bulging, soreness, or the sensation of a foreign body in the eye. Typically, it is acceptable to use such glasses for prescriptions up to 500 degrees. However, it is generally not advisable for patients with high myopia, as these glasses do not provide clear vision.

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Written by Zheng Xin
Ophthalmology
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What should I do if nearsightedness is inherited by my child?

Not all myopia is hereditary, but high myopia does have a genetic component. The occurrence of myopia is mainly related to genetic and environmental factors. If there are children in the family with a history of high myopia, they should develop good eye habits from a young age, or undergo genetic testing for high myopia. If myopia occurs, it can be corrected by wearing glasses, or by refractive surgery after reaching adulthood.