This is the problem I have. My vision has been poor since childhood. Doctors said that it was inherited from my mother. I remember that I couldn’t see well in kindergarten. In first grade they prescribed me glasses -3.5. In grades 6-7 it was already -6, then -7... Myopia progressed, eventually becoming of the highest degree of severity. In 9th grade I started wearing contact lenses. I really liked it

After graduating from university, I underwent laser vision correction. At that time I was -10. Now I see perfectly! My vision was restored almost 100%. She gave birth a year and 2 months after the operation. They said everything was fine with me

But now I'm worried about something else. What about my child??? Will my baby inherit bad eyesight from me? I read somewhere that myopia is transmitted from the mother in 75% of cases. Unfortunately, I don’t remember where, I can’t re-read it in more detail. I don’t want her to suffer like I do. When I see little children wearing glasses on the street, my heart breaks.

We went for a medical examination at 10 months, they said that it was normal for now to come at 3 years. And my fear keeps scratching me (not big, but still there). Have you ever encountered this?

Poor vision is inherited. Has anyone encountered this?

The survey is completed.

I have good eyesight

8 (42%)

I have poor eyesight, but the children have good eyesight

7 (37%)

I have poor eyesight and so do my children(

4 (21%)

Good day, dear friends! Do you have myopia and does it cause you a lot of inconvenience in everyday life? Are you worried that the disease is inherited and your children, just like you, will have to wear glasses?

Of course, there are two forms of myopia: congenital and acquired, and your child may well inherit the myopia gene from you. Let's try to figure out how myopia is inherited and is it possible to prevent the development of the disease?

As the well-known Koroviev said in Bulgakov’s famous novel “The Master and Margarita”: “Issues of blood are the most difficult in the world! I won’t be at all wrong if, speaking about this, I mention a fancifully shuffled deck of cards...”

After so much time, scientists come to the conclusion that 100% of all pathologies are encoded in our genes.

Each of us has our own genotype, which is passed on from our parents. Each phenotypic manifestation: eye color, hair color, nose shape, lips, face shape, and even the structure of the eyeball is encoded by two genes. One is transmitted by mom, the second by dad. The combination of these genes determines how the trait will manifest itself in the little person: which parent he will resemble.

Every person's genotype is encoded in their chromosomes. There are 23 pairs of them in the body: 22 pairs of so-called somatic chromosomes, and the 23rd pair determines a person’s gender.

Chromosomes encode genes, when deciphered, one can speak with 100% confidence about a person’s predisposition to a particular pathology. Susceptibility to the development of eye diseases, including myopia, is also determined by genes.

However, it is not necessary that . It can manifest itself in the process of growth and development. It may not appear at all in a child whose parents both wear distance glasses. Why does this happen?

There are several types of genes: dominant and recessive. Dominant - overwhelming and main, if it is embedded in the code, then it will always manifest itself - it is denoted by a capital Latin letter. A recessive trait will only appear if it finds the same pair for itself, so it is denoted by a small letter.

The trait can also be linked to the sex chromosome. The sex chromosomes of women are XX, and those of men are XY, so if the trait is linked to the Y chromosome, then it will appear in 100% of boys, if with X, it is dominant and is in the dad’s genotype, then all boys will be healthy, but girls will be lucky less, since they will all be sick.

Myopia genes

Mild and moderate myopia is transmitted in somatic genes and is a dominant feature, so the probability of having a sick child from parents whose genes are Aa in the patient and aa in the healthy one is 50%.

If one has AA, and the chromosome of the second has aa, then 100% of children will develop the disease. If the genotype of the parents is: Aa;Aa, then 25% of the children have a chance of being born healthy.

A severe degree of myopia, the diopter readings of which are greater than -5 diopters, is inherited as a recessive trait. Then the baby has a greater chance of being born healthy, but the disease may appear in the next generation. For example, with the CC;CC genotype, 75% of children will be healthy, but more than 66% of them can pass the gene on to the next generation.

Thus, the disease will manifest itself in children with genotypes: Aa, AA, ss. With the CC genotype, transmission of the disease to subsequent generations is possible, although the child himself will be healthy.

Physiology of myopia

We should not forget that much also depends on our own choices. Sometimes, even with a dominant code, the disease may not manifest itself. This will only happen if a person works hard and hard on himself, loves himself and takes care of his health.

Genes only speak about predisposition, and whether the disease manifests itself or not depends only on ourselves.

Normally, a child is born with farsightedness of +2.5 - +3 diopters, and then vision levels out. It is rare that congenital myopia is recorded, and the primary reason for its formation is the impact of a terratogenic factor during the intrauterine development of the fetus.

Heredity appears later. Lack of useful substances during the growth and development of a child, failure to comply with hygiene rules, uncontrolled use of a computer, lack of physical activity, as well as other reasons can become the cause and impetus for the development of the disease.

Prolonged intense work of the eye leads to spasm of muscle fibers, and then irreversible changes are formed.

The spasm of accommodation develops into refractive myopia - a violation of the refraction of rays when passing through refractive structures, since the lens is deformed due to constant overextension.

Axial myopia occurs as a result of the eye being pulled forward, when the distance to the retina is removed by a physical method. By the way, this process can be affected by a person’s genetic predisposition to connective tissue weakness.

The vitreous body has an amorphous consistency and has the ability to change the size of the eye, stretching it outward. This is another mechanism for adapting and focusing the image, while the eye works like a SLR camera - when stretched, it brings the image closer, and when flattened, it moves away.

When connective tissue fibers are weak, elastic properties are significantly reduced and the eye cannot regain its previous shape. Hence the poor eyesight.

Can changes be avoided?

Children with a predisposition to myopia should be observed by an ophthalmologist from birth. They should receive daily dosages of all the necessary substances for the growth and development of the eye: vitamins, minerals. If this cannot be done naturally - with the help of a daily food diet, then the deficiency is compensated by preventive doses of vitamin replacement therapy.

From an early age, children need to be taught to relax and train their eyes:

• Blinking as quickly as possible for 20-30 seconds will allow you to relax the eye muscles and stop the spasm of accommodation, as well as speed up blood circulation and metabolic processes;
• Squeezing your eyes tightly and then opening your eyes as much as possible also trains the eye through alternate tension and relaxation of the muscles;
• Eye massage - performed in a circular motion towards the inner corner with closed eyelids using two fingers of the same hand. Accelerates blood circulation, reduces intraocular pressure, relaxes the eyes;
• Abducting the eyeballs to the extreme points while fixing the gaze allows you to maximally strain some muscles and stretch the antagonists.

Such children should strictly regulate the time they work with a tablet or smartphone; watching cartoons and films on TV. In this case, it is necessary to observe hygienic regimes:
room illumination, distance to the screen or monitor, and even time of day.

Children should be examined by an ophthalmologist at least twice a year. This is necessary for early diagnosis and prevention. The doctor may prescribe hardware treatment: ophthalmic chromotherapy, cetomagnetic stimulation, ophthalmic relaxation, and so on. And also, perhaps, he will select substances that contain substances that are beneficial for the eyes.

Dear parents, the health of your child depends primarily on you, and it’s not just about genes. Give him more attention, don’t get rid of your child by handing him a tablet, it’s better to spend this time outdoors in the park.

Myopia (myopia). Causes, types, symptoms, signs and diagnosis

Thank you

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

What is myopia?

Myopia ( myopia) is an eye disease in which a person has difficulty seeing distant objects, but sees relatively well near objects. With time ( especially if the causative factor is not eliminated) myopia can progress, causing the patient's vision to gradually deteriorate. For some time this will be compensated by the work of the accommodation apparatus ( devices), however, over time, the compensatory capabilities of the refractive system of the eye will exhaust themselves, as a result of which certain complications will begin to develop, which can ultimately lead to complete loss of vision ( that is, to blindness).

In order to understand the mechanisms of development, principles of diagnosis and treatment of myopia, certain knowledge about the structure of the eye and the functioning of its refractive system is necessary.

The human eye is a complex system that perceives images from the outside world and transmits them to the brain.

From an anatomical point of view, the human eye consists of:

• Outer shell. The outer layer of the eye is formed by the sclera and cornea. The sclera is an opaque white tissue that covers most of the eyeball. The cornea is a small section of the outer shell of the eye, which is located on its front surface and has a slightly curved ( outward) shape ( in the form of a hemisphere). The cornea is transparent, as a result of which light rays pass through it easily. The cornea is an important organ of the refractive system of the eye, that is, light rays passing through it are refracted and collected together at a certain point.
• Middle shell. Average ( vascular) the membrane of the eye provides blood supply and nutrition to the eyeball and all intraocular structures. In the area of ​​the anterior part of the eyeball ( just behind the cornea) the iris is formed from the choroid of the eye ( Iris). This is a kind of diaphragm, in the center of which there is a small hole ( pupil). The main function of the iris is to regulate the amount of light entering the eye. When exposed to excessively bright light, certain muscles in the iris contract, causing the pupil to become smaller and reducing the amount of light passing through it. In the dark, the opposite process occurs. The pupil dilates, as a result of which the eye can catch more light rays.
• Inner shell. The inner lining of the eye ( retina) is represented by many photosensitive nerve cells. These cells perceive light particles entering the eye ( photons), thereby generating nerve impulses. These impulses are transmitted through special nerve fibers to the brain, where image formation occurs.

There are also certain elements inside the eye that ensure its normal functioning.

Intraocular structures include:

• Vitreous body. This is a transparent formation of a gelatinous consistency, which occupies the main volume of the eyeball and performs a fixing function ( that is, it ensures the maintenance of the shape of the eye).
• Lens. This is a small formation located directly behind the pupil and shaped like a biconvex lens. The lens substance itself is surrounded by a transparent capsule. Along the edges, special ligaments are attached to the lens capsule, which connect it to the ciliary body and the ciliary muscle. The lens, like the cornea, is an important component of the refractive system of the eye.
• Cameras of the eye. The chambers of the eye are small, slit-like spaces located between the cornea and iris ( anterior chamber of the eye), iris and lens ( posterior chamber of the eye). The space of these chambers is filled with a special liquid ( aqueous humor), which provides nutrition to intraocular structures.

In addition to the eyeball and intraocular structures, there are a number of auxiliary organs of the eye that play an important role in its normal functioning ( these are the extraocular muscles, lacrimal glands, eyelids, etc.). With the development of myopia, damage to the extraocular muscles may occur, so they will be described in more detail.

The extraocular muscles of the eye include:

• External rectus muscle– provides abduction ( turn) eyes out.
• Internal rectus muscle– provides inward rotation of the eye.
• Inferior rectus muscle– ensures lowering of the eye.
• Superior rectus muscle– provides eye elevation.
• Superior oblique muscle– raises and averts his eyes.
• Inferior oblique muscle– lowers and averts his eyes.

As mentioned earlier, the main structures of the refractive system of the eye are the lens and the cornea. The cornea has a constant refractive power of approximately 40 diopters ( diopter – a unit of measurement of the refractive power of a lens), while the refractive power of the lens can vary from 19 to 33 diopters.

Under normal conditions, when passing through the cornea and lens, light rays are refracted and collected at one point, which should normally be located ( project) directly on the retina. In this case, a person receives the clearest possible image of the observed object.

When a person looks into the distance, the refractive power of the lens decreases, causing the image of a distant object to become clearer. This occurs due to relaxation of the ciliary muscle, which leads to tension in the ligaments of the lens and its capsule and flattening of the lens itself.

When viewing a nearby object, the opposite process occurs. As a result of contraction of the ciliary muscle, the tension of the ligaments and capsule of the lens is weakened, the lens itself acquires a more convex shape, and its refractive power increases, which allows the image to be focused on the retina.

The mechanism for the development of myopia is that, due to various anomalies in the structure of the eyeball or due to a malfunction of its refractive system, images of distant objects are focused not directly on the retina, but in front of it, as a result of which a person is perceived as fuzzy and blurry. At the same time, a person sees nearby objects more or less normally.

Causes and forms of myopia

Myopia can develop due to anatomical defects of the eyeball or the refractive system of the eye, as well as as a result of poor visual hygiene.

Types of myopia

The direct cause of myopia can be damage to the eyeball and various components of the refractive system.

Depending on the affected structure, the following are distinguished:

• Axial ( axial) myopia. Develops as a result of an excessively long anteroposterior size of the eyeball. The refractive systems of the eye are not affected.
• Lenticular myopia. Develops as a result of an increase in the refractive power of the lens, which can be observed in some diseases ( for example, with diabetes) or when taking certain medications ( hydralazine, chlorthalidone, phenothiazine and others).
• Myopia with damage to the cornea. In this case, the cause of the development of the disease is too much curvature of the cornea, which is combined with its excessive refractive power.

Depending on the development mechanism, there are:

• true myopia;
• false myopia.

True myopia

True myopia is a number of pathological conditions in which organic damage to the eyeball, cornea or lens occurs. True myopia can be congenital or acquired. Without timely elimination of the cause of the disease, true myopia can progress and lead to the development of complications.

False myopia ( spasm of accommodation)

Accommodation is an adaptation of the eye that provides clear vision of objects located at different distances from a person. False myopia is a pathological condition that develops in children and young people as a result of overstrain of the accommodation apparatus.

As mentioned earlier, when viewing nearby objects, the ciliary muscle contracts and the refractive power of the lens increases. If the ciliary muscle is in a contracted state for several hours, this can disrupt the metabolism and nervous regulation in it, resulting in its spasm ( that is, a pronounced and prolonged contraction). If a person tries to look into the distance, the spasmed ciliary muscle will not relax, and the refractive power of the lens will not decrease, as a result of which an object located in the distance will be blurred. This condition is called a spasm of accommodation.

The following may contribute to the development of accommodation spasm:

• long continuous reading;
• long work at the computer;
• watching TV for a long time;
• reading ( or working on a computer) in poor lighting;
• non-compliance with the work and rest regime;
• inadequate sleep;
• malnutrition.

Since the spasm of accommodation is temporary and almost completely resolves after the cause of its occurrence is eliminated, this condition is usually called false myopia. No anatomical defects are observed in the eyeball or in the refractive system of the eye, however, with prolonged exposure to the causative factor and frequently repeated spasms of accommodation, true myopia can develop.

Depending on the cause of development, there are:

• hereditary myopia;
• acquired myopia.

Hereditary myopia

Numerous studies have shown that myopia can be inherited, with varying degrees of the disease being inherited through different mechanisms.

The human genetic apparatus consists of 23 pairs of chromosomes located in the nuclei of cells. Each chromosome contains a huge number of different genes, which can be active or inactive. It is the activation of certain genes that determines all the properties and functions of cells, tissues, organs and the entire organism as a whole.

During conception, the fusion of male and female germ cells occurs, as a result of which the developing embryo inherits 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 chromosomes from the father. If the resulting chromosomes contain defective genes, there is a possibility that the child will inherit the existing mutation and will also develop a certain disease.

Mild and moderate myopia is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. This means that if a child inherits at least 1 defective gene, he will develop this disease. The likelihood of inheriting this gene depends on which parent has myopia. If both parents are sick, the probability of having a sick child will be from 75 to 100%. If only one of the parents is sick, the child will inherit defective genes with a probability of 50 to 100%.

High myopia is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. This means that if only one of the parents is sick, and the other is healthy and is not a carrier of the defective gene, their child will be healthy, but may inherit 1 defective gene and will also become an asymptomatic carrier of the disease. If both parents are sick, the probability of having a sick child is 100%. If both parents are asymptomatic carriers of the defective gene, the probability of having an affected child will be 25%, and the probability of having an asymptomatic carrier will be 50%.

Acquired myopia

Acquired myopia is spoken of when at the time of birth the child has no signs of this disease, and the likelihood of a hereditary factor is excluded ( If the child's parents or grandparents did not have myopia, the likelihood of a genetic predisposition is extremely low). The cause of the development of the disease is environmental factors that affect the organ of vision during human life.

The following can contribute to the development of myopia:

• Poor visual hygiene. As mentioned earlier, when reading, as well as when working at a computer or watching TV at close range, accommodation tension occurs ( that is, the ciliary muscle tenses, which leads to an increase in the refractive power of the lens). If a person works in this position for a long time, certain changes begin to occur in the ciliary muscle ( it hypertrophies, that is, it becomes thicker and stronger). The process of hypertrophy of the ciliary muscle can take several years, but if this happens, the mechanism of its relaxation will be disrupted. When a person looks into the distance, the ciliary muscle will not completely relax, but will remain in a partially contracted state. As a result, the ligaments of the lens capsule will remain relaxed, and the lens itself will not flatten to the required extent, which will be the direct cause of myopia.
• Unfavorable working conditions. Reading or working at a computer in poor lighting requires greater strain of accommodation, which over time can lead to the development of myopia.
• Avitaminosis. Lack of vitamins ( especially vitamin B2) may also contribute to the development of myopia. This is explained by the fact that vitamin B2 ( riboflavin) normally improves many functions of the eye, in particular facilitates the processes of dark adaptation ( improved vision in the dark) and eliminates eye fatigue due to overwork. With a lack of this vitamin, excessive tension and fatigue of the eye structures are also observed.
• Primary weakness of accommodation. This term refers to a pathological condition in which the refractive power of the cornea and/or lens is not strong enough. The light rays passing through them are focused somewhat behind the retina, and as a compensatory reaction, the eyeball is stretched anteroposteriorly. If after a certain time the disease that caused the weakness of accommodation is eliminated, the overstretched eyeball will cause myopia.
• Injuries. Eye injuries accompanied by damage to the eyeball, cornea or lens can also cause the development of myopia.

Night myopia

This condition cannot be called pathological, since it also occurs in people with normal vision. The mechanism of development of night myopia is associated with the fact that in the dark the pupil dilates, as well as the contraction of the ciliary muscle and an increase in the refractive power of the lens, resulting in images of observed objects ( located at a distant distance from the eye) focus not directly on the retina, but somewhat in front of it. It is assumed that these adaptive reactions are aimed at improving vision in the dark, since when the pupil dilates, more photons enter the retina, and the development of slight “myopia” forces a person to look at objects at a closer distance.

Night myopia completely disappears in the daytime and in good lighting.

Myopia in children

All of the above factors can lead to the development of myopia in a child. At the same time, there are a number of other pathological and physiological conditions that contribute to the development of myopia in childhood.

Depending on the mechanism of development of myopia in children, there are:

• congenital myopia;
• physiological myopia.

Congenital myopia

Congenital myopia can be observed in premature babies who were born before their due date ( Normally, a child should be born no earlier than after 37 weeks of intrauterine development). This is explained by the fact that in an embryo at the age of 3–4 months, the shape and size of the eye differ from those of an adult. The posterior part of the sclera protrudes slightly posteriorly, as a result of which the anteroposterior size of the eyeball increases. Also at this age, there is a more pronounced curvature of the cornea and lens, which increases their refractive power. All this leads to the fact that light rays passing through the refractive system of the eye are focused in front of the retina, as a result of which a child born prematurely will experience myopia.

A few months after birth, the shape of the baby's eyeball changes, and the refractive power of the cornea and lens decreases, as a result of which myopia disappears without any correction.

Physiological myopia

Physiological myopia can develop in children aged 5 to 10 years, when especially intensive growth of the eyeball occurs. If its anteroposterior size becomes excessively large, the rays passing through the cornea and lens are focused in front of the retina, that is, myopia develops.

As the child grows, the severity of myopia may increase. This process usually ends by the age of 18, when the growth of the eyeball stops. At the same time, in some cases, progression of physiological myopia up to 25 years is possible.

Symptoms and signs of myopia

The main complaint of patients with developing myopia is decreased visual acuity. Other symptoms may be related to the progression of the disease.

Reduced visual acuity with myopia

The first thing that begins to bother patients with myopia is blurred vision of distant objects. With a slowly progressing disease, patients do not immediately notice this symptom, often attributing the decrease in visual acuity to overwork and fatigue. Over time, myopia progresses, as a result of which patients begin to see distant objects worse and worse. Working with objects at close range ( for example reading) does not cause any inconvenience for people with myopia.

Also, people with myopia constantly squint when trying to see distant objects. The mechanism for the development of this symptom is explained by the fact that when the palpebral fissure is partially closed, the pupil is slightly blocked. As a result, the nature of the light rays passing through it changes, which helps to improve visual acuity. Also, when closing the eyelids, a slight flattening of the cornea of ​​the eye occurs, which can help improve vision in myopia combined with corneal astigmatism ( a disease in which there is an irregular, crooked shape of the cornea).

Other signs of myopia

As the disease progresses, other symptoms may appear associated with damage to the refractive system of the eye and visual impairment.

Myopia can manifest itself:

• Headaches. The development of this symptom is associated with overstrain of the accommodation apparatus, with impaired blood supply to the ciliary muscle and other intraocular structures, as well as with a blurred image of distant objects, which affects the functioning of the entire central nervous system.
• Burning and pain in the eyes. Occurs soon after starting to work with objects at close range ( for example, when working at a computer). The development of these symptoms is also associated with fatigue of various intraocular structures and impaired accommodation. It is worth noting that a burning sensation in the eyes can also indicate a spasm of accommodation.
• Tearing. Increased lacrimation may occur during prolonged work at the computer and when reading books, but this symptom can also occur in healthy people ( in the latter case it appears much later and disappears after a few minutes of rest). In addition, in patients with myopia, tearing may occur on clear sunny days or in bright light. This is explained by the fact that with myopia there is a more pronounced ( than normal) dilation of the pupil, which is associated with damage to the ciliary muscle. As a result, too much light enters the eye, and increased tear production is a kind of protective reaction in response to this phenomenon.
• Increase in the size of the palpebral fissure. This symptom may not be noticeable in mild myopia, but is usually pronounced in severe progressive myopia. This is explained by the excessive enlargement of the eyeball, which protrudes somewhat forward, spreading the eyelids apart.

Diagnosis of myopia

An ophthalmologist diagnoses and treats myopia. Myopia can be suspected based on the patient’s complaints, however, additional research is always required to confirm the diagnosis, determine the severity of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment.

To diagnose myopia use:

• measurement of visual acuity;
• fundus examination;
• visual field examination;

• skiascopy;
• refractometry;
• computer keratotopography.

Measuring visual acuity for myopia

As mentioned earlier, the first thing that suffers with myopia is visual acuity, that is, the ability to clearly see objects at a certain distance from the eye. Objective methods for studying this indicator make it possible to determine the degree of myopia and plan further diagnostic and therapeutic measures.

The visual acuity test procedure itself is simple and can be completed in a matter of minutes. The study is carried out in a well-lit room, in which there is a special table. This table contains rows of letters or signs ( characters). The top row contains the largest letters, and each subsequent row contains smaller ones.

The essence of the study is as follows. The patient sits on a chair, which is located 5 meters from the table. The doctor gives the patient a special opaque shield and asks him to cover one eye with it ( without closing it, without closing the eyelids), and look at the table with your second eye. After this, the doctor points to letters of various sizes ( first to larger ones, then to smaller ones) and asks the patient to name them.

People with normal visual acuity can easily ( without squinting) read the letters from the tenth ( above) table row. With myopia, patients see worse in the distance, as a result of which they are less able to distinguish small details ( including letters and symbols on the table). If during the study a person names any letter incorrectly, the doctor returns 1 row higher and checks whether he sees the letters in it. The degree of myopia is determined depending on which row of letters the patient can read. After determining visual acuity in one eye, it should be covered with a shutter and the same study should be carried out with the second eye.

If during the examination the patient cannot read the letters from the very top row, this indicates an extremely severe visual impairment. In this case, the doctor stands at a distance of 4–5 meters from the patient, shows him a certain number of fingers on his hand and asks him to count them. If the patient cannot do this, the doctor slowly approaches him ( keeping your hand in the same position), and the patient must name the number of fingers as soon as he can count them. If he cannot do this, even when the doctor's hand is placed directly in front of his eye, then he is practically blind in that eye ( this condition occurs in advanced cases, with the development of complications of untreated myopia). The last stage of diagnosis in this case will be checking light perception ( the doctor periodically shines a flashlight into the patient’s eye and asks him to speak when he sees the light). If the patient cannot determine the moment the light turns on, then he is completely blind in the eye being examined.

Degrees of myopia

The degree of myopia is determined immediately after visual acuity is determined. To do this, special glasses with removable lenses are put on the patient's eyes. The doctor inserts an opaque plate into the frame in front of one eye, and begins to place diverging lenses one by one in front of the other eye. These lenses scatter the rays passing through them, resulting in the overall refractive power of the refractive system ( i.e. lenses, cornea and lens) decreases and the focus of the image moves backward.

As the lenses are replaced, the doctor asks the patient to read the letters from the various rows of the chart until he can clearly identify the letters ( symbols) from row 10. The degree of myopia in this case will be equal to the lens power required to correct vision.

Depending on the severity of myopia, there are:

• Mild myopia– up to 3 diopters.
• Moderate myopia– from 3 to 6 diopters.
• High degree of myopia– more than 6 diopters.

Fundus examination for myopia

As myopia progresses, the anteroposterior size of the eyeball almost always increases. The outer layer of the eye ( sclera) is stretched relatively easily, while the retina ( consisting of photosensitive nerve cells) is capable of withstanding stretching only to certain limits ( which are usually extremely small). This is why with myopia, atrophic changes in the area of ​​the optic nerve head are often observed ( The optic disc is a region at the back of the eyeball that collects nerve fibers that transmit nerve impulses from photosensitive nerve cells to the brain).

These changes can be identified using fundus examination ( ophthalmoscopy). The essence of the study is as follows. The doctor puts a special mirror with a hole inside on his head and sits opposite the patient. After this, he places a magnifying glass in front of the patient's eye and directs rays of light reflected from the mirror directly into the pupil of the eye being examined. As a result of this, the doctor can examine the posterior ( internal) the wall of the eyeball, assess the condition of the optic nerve and identify the so-called myopic cone - a crescent-shaped area of ​​the affected retina located around the optic nerve head.

Before the test, the patient is usually given a few drops of medications that dilate the pupils ( for example, atropine). The need for this procedure is due to the fact that when conducting an examination, the doctor directs rays of light into the patient’s eye, which normally leads to a reflex narrowing of the pupil, through which the doctor cannot see anything. Based on this, it follows that ophthalmoscopy is contraindicated if the patient cannot be prescribed these drugs ( for example, with glaucoma, a disease characterized by a persistent increase in intraocular pressure).

Visual field testing for myopia

As myopia progresses, not only visual acuity suffers, but also peripheral vision. This is manifested by a narrowing of the visual field, which can be detected during special studies. The mechanism for the development of this symptom is damage to the retina, which occurs when the eyeball is overstretched.

You can examine the visual field using an approximate ( subjective) or an objective method. In the subjective method of examination, the doctor and the patient sit opposite each other so that the patient’s right eye looks into the doctor’s left eye, while their eyes should be 1 meter apart. The doctor asks the patient to look straight ahead and does the same himself. He then places a special white mark on the side of the head, which neither he nor the patient can see at first. After this, the doctor begins to move the mark from the periphery to the center ( to a point located between his eye and the patient's eye). The patient himself must give a sign to the doctor as soon as he notices the movement of the mark. If the doctor notices the mark at the same time as the patient, then the latter’s visual field is normal ( provided that they are normal from the doctor himself).

During the study, the doctor places a mark on the right, left, above and below the eye, checking the boundaries of the visual fields from all sides.

With an objective research method, the patient sits in front of a special apparatus, which is a large hemisphere. He places his head on a special stand in the center of the hemisphere, after which he fixes his vision on a point located directly in front of his eyes. Then the doctor begins to move a special mark from the periphery of the sphere to its center, and the patient must give him a sign as soon as he sees it. The main advantage of this method is its independence from the doctor’s vision condition. Moreover, on the reverse ( convex) on the side of the hemisphere there are special rulers with gradation, by which the doctor immediately determines the boundaries of the visual fields in various planes.

The examination itself is absolutely safe and does not take more than 5–7 minutes. No special preparation is required to perform the study, and the patient can go home immediately after the procedure.

Skiascopy for myopia

This is a simple research method that allows you to diagnose myopia and determine its degree. Skiascopy examines the functions of all refractive structures of the eye ( lens and cornea) simultaneously. The essence of the method is as follows. The doctor sits on a chair in front of the patient and places a light source 1 meter from the eye being examined ( usually a mirror with a hole in the center that reflects light from a lamp located to the side of the patient). The light rays reflected from the mirror pass through the cornea and lens, enter the retina of the eye being examined and are reflected from it, as a result of which the doctor sees a round red spot through the pupil ( the red color is caused by blood vessels located at the bottom of the eyeball).

If after this the doctor begins to move the mirror up or down, the shape of the reflected spot will begin to change, and the nature of the changes will depend on the state of the refractive system of the eye. So, for example, if a person has 1 diopter myopia, the rays reflected from the retina will be collected ( focus) at a distance of exactly 1 meter from the eye. In this case, as soon as the doctor moves the mirror to the side, the red spot will immediately disappear.

If the patient has myopia of more than 1 diopter, when the mirror moves, the doctor will see a shadow that will move in the direction opposite to the movement of the light source. In this case, the doctor installs a special skiascopic ruler between the mirror and the patient’s eye, which contains many diverging lenses of varying strengths. Then he begins to change lenses until, when the mirror moves, the red spot begins to disappear instantly ( without creating a moving shadow). The degree of myopia is determined depending on the power of the diverging lens required to achieve this effect.

Other research methods for myopia

After identifying myopia and determining its degree, it is recommended to examine the components of the refractive system of the eye, which in some cases makes it possible to determine the true cause of the disease.

To identify the cause of myopia, the doctor may prescribe:

• Ophthalmometry. This study allows you to evaluate the refractive power of the cornea. During the examination, special test marks are projected onto the patient’s cornea, the nature of the image of which will depend on its refractive power.
• Refractometry. The principle of this study is similar to that of ophthalmometry, however, in this case, test images are projected not onto the cornea, but onto the retina, which allows simultaneous examination of both refractive structures of the eye ( cornea and lens). Refractometry can be performed manually ( using special devices) or automatically. In the latter case, all measurements and calculations are performed by a special computer, after which all the data of interest to the doctor is displayed on the monitor.
• Computer keratotopography. The essence of the method is to study the shape and refractive power of the cornea using modern computer technology.

Before use, you should consult a specialist.

Myopia is a refractive error in which a person has difficulty seeing into the distance. People diagnosed with myopia experience constant discomfort due to low visual acuity. And, of course, they would not want their children to inherit such a disease. Can myopia be inherited? Details in the article.

In this article

What is myopia?

The optical system of the human eye is almost perfect. We have the ability to distinguish colors and their many shades, adapt to different lighting conditions, and see objects both near and far. If there are any changes in the organs of vision, the functioning of the entire system is disrupted. Thus, the abnormal shape of the eyeball or the surface of the cornea, problems with the lens, ciliary muscle, can become an obstacle to creating the suitable conditions necessary for focusing images on the retina. Myopia is inherited if a child inherits the shape of the myopic parent's eye, features of the cornea, etc.

Myopia is a refractive error in which the light flux is focused in front of the retina, so a person sees only close objects well, and distant ones seem blurry, indistinct, without contours. How can myopia be corrected? Usually glasses and contact lenses with appropriate diopters. Vision correction products are selected in such a way as to cause a minimum number of side optical effects.

Vision with myopia: symptoms

Myopia with insufficient correction and exceeding visual load standards can progress. This becomes a serious obstacle to laser vision correction, and also significantly reduces the quality of life of patients with myopia. Therefore, early diagnosis is extremely important.

How myopia manifests itself:

• low head tilt - this symptom should be monitored by parents of children prone to myopia, as the main sign of a developing pathology;
• constant feeling of eye fatigue, inability to clearly see distant objects;
• increased lacrimation or, conversely, dryness, burning in the eyes - this is how the body reacts to increased stress and overexertion;
• frequent ailments and headaches against the background of decreased performance and increased fatigue.

For a long time, myopia can go unnoticed, since blurred vision is often attributed to fatigue. In order not to miss the onset of the disease, you need to know the symptoms of the disease and promptly contact specialists for qualified help. Why does vision deteriorate?

Causes of poor vision

There are many reasons why vision can deviate significantly from the norm. These include congenital pathologies and past infectious and viral diseases that have a detrimental effect on the general condition of the body, as well as injuries to the eyes and head. Is myopia inherited? Yes, but it is not the disease that is transmitted, but a hereditary predisposition to it. The exact cause cannot be determined during a routine examination by an ophthalmologist, so patients who suspect myopia are prescribed a full ophthalmological examination.

The examination is carried out with a normal pupil and with a dilated one. This allows you to obtain extensive information about the state of all ocular structures. It happens that a person does not see several lines on a letter table, but this does not mean that he is myopic. The cause of the disorder may not be anatomical, but accommodative. Visual acuity in this case is impaired due to spasm of the ciliary muscle, which is responsible for accommodation. This disorder is called false myopia, and if it is diagnosed in a timely manner, it can be treated quite successfully within a couple of weeks or months.

Is myopia inherited or not?

The likelihood that myopia of one or both parents will be passed on to the child is very high. The child inherits the shape of the eyeball, cornea and features of other important structures of the human optical apparatus, so vision problems can arise both immediately after birth and during life, when appropriate conditions are created.

When talking about whether myopia is inherited, experts focus on the fact that it is the predisposition to myopia that is inherited. To prevent the conditions for the development of myopia from being activated, myopia should be prevented from the earliest years of a child’s life: do not strain the eyes, take vitamins that are good for vision, and spend active time in the fresh air. All this will have a beneficial effect on the condition of the child’s visual organs, and the optical system will be formed without pathologies. Myopia is transmitted to children and progresses if the first symptoms were not noticed in a timely manner and treatment for the disease was not started.

Myopia gene

Is myopia passed on to children? Most children of myopic parents inherit only a predisposition - that is, certain factors that contribute to the development of myopia. If the parents—the child’s mother and father—suffer from myopia, there will be more such factors, and accordingly, the likelihood of myopia in the child will increase.

How is myopia transmitted? The myopia gene RASGRF1, located on chromosome 15, is responsible for the inheritance of myopia. Every person has it, but its variants vary, so scientists recommend calling it "the gene whose variants are associated with myopia." The myopia gene can be passed on from both mother and father. Astigmatism is also inherited in 50% of cases. Some retinal diseases are also hereditary. In people prone to myopia, there is a lengthening of the anterior-posterior axis of the eye, which can affect focusing. As a rule, the gradual development of myopia begins with a combination of several negative factors.

Diagnosis of predisposition to myopia

Medical examinations of young children are carried out regularly in local clinics. If there is a hereditary factor, diagnosis should be complete and include examination using modern instruments. How is myopia transmitted? Usually in the form of certain factors such as the elongated shape of the eye, atypical shape of the cornea, etc. Detailed diagnostics allows you to see all the features of the optical system of the eye. If there are changes, the patient will receive a treatment regimen for mild or moderate myopia or a plan of preventive measures aimed at preventing myopia.

Testing for myopia:

• checking distance visual acuity using a table, determining eye refraction and the degree of myopia;
• ophthalmoscopy, examination with a slit lamp - an informative method of examining the fundus of the eye, allows you to assess the condition of the retina, optic nerve head, choroid;
• determination of visual fields, study of color perception;
• measuring the length of the eye - allows you to determine the tendency to myopia and the causes of myopia progression.

Typically, hereditary myopia appears between the ages of 6 and 12, and then continues to progress until the age of 21. After the growth of the visual apparatus is completed, vision stabilizes. Parents of myopic children should prevent rapid deterioration of vision and direct all efforts to prevent the progression of myopia.

How to avoid inherited myopia

Those children who clearly have a predisposition to myopia, for example, during the examination a small or zero reserve of farsightedness was recorded, must follow all the instructions of the ophthalmologist. Since myopia is inherited, parents who are aware of the threat of such a pathology must create favorable conditions for the normal development of the child’s visual organs.

• routine examinations - you cannot ignore regular examinations by an ophthalmologist, because myopia can appear at any time and it is very important to correct your vision immediately;
• exercises on vision simulators, daily visual gymnastics - eye exercises help strengthen the extraocular muscles and improve blood flow to the organs of vision;
• special diet for myopia - it is necessary to include in the menu fish, meat broths, dietary rabbit meat, eggs, leafy greens, vegetables, fruits rich in vitamins A, B, C, E;
• blueberry extract;
• therapy with mydriatic drops - such treatment is prescribed if, with developing myopia, a spasm of accommodation is also observed; taking medications can improve vision by several diopters.

Physiotherapeutic procedures using magnetic therapy, electrical stimulation, and laser therapy devices are quite effective in childhood and adolescence. The action of the devices is aimed at improving blood circulation in the organs of vision, training the accommodative muscle, which has a positive effect on eye health.

Many people - even if they would like to give up glasses - doubt that this is possible.

This skepticism is largely based on misconceptions. There are five common misconceptions that make people think that vision cannot be improved:

1. Poor vision is inherited.
2. Vision inevitably deteriorates with age.
3. Vision deteriorates due to increased eye strain.
4. Deterioration of vision is the result of weakness of the eye muscles.
5. Vision is only a physical, mechanical process.

Let's look at each of these misconceptions in detail.

1. Poor vision is inherited

The first misconception is that vision problems are hereditary: if your parents had poor vision, then you will have the same. Previously, this point of view was generally accepted, but now most experts believe that visual ability is not predetermined at birth.

According to statistics, only 3 out of 100 visually impaired people were born with hereditary visual problems. The remaining 97% developed vision problems at some point in their lives. After all, just as we learn to speak or walk, we learn to see.

But since most of us are born with normal vision, it would be more correct to say that we learn throughout our lives Not see. Of course, we learn this unconsciously, unintentionally, and no one teaches us this, but we use our eyes and mind incorrectly, which leads to deterioration of vision.

Recent research has shown that even children as young as one day old are able to focus their eyes clearly. When they are shown a picture of their mother's face, they focus on the picture, changing the speed at which they suck on the artificial nipple. If they suck at the right speed, the picture remains clear. If they suck much faster or slower, the picture goes out of focus. By adjusting the speed of sucking, babies are able to keep the image in focus.

Before this original experiment, scientists mistakenly believed that babies couldn't focus their eyes clearly until they were 3 or 4 months old. This misconception is the result of insufficient research by scientists into infant behavior.

From birth, we experience the world around us through our five senses. The dominant and most developed is vision. We receive 80 to 90% of information through our eyes. Vision is of paramount importance for connecting with the world around us.

A significant number of people wear glasses or contacts. The need to use optics in order to see well is considered the norm. Humanity is no longer able to use one of the most important sense organs - vision - without artificial devices.

The number of people with visual problems has increased 5-fold over the past 100 years. This terrifying growth occurred in just three or four generations. If poor eyesight is inherited, then who could pass it on to us?

2. Vision inevitably deteriorates with age.

The second misconception is this: vision inevitably declines with age, and everyone will eventually need reading glasses.

The visual system - just like every other system in your body - deteriorates over time. Of course, this happens if you do nothing to keep it youthful and elastic, and do not get rid of the tension and stiffness that accumulates over the years. The process of vision deterioration is not inevitable and irreparable. But only you can turn it back.

One example. The Cambridge Institute recently received a letter from an 89-year-old man who was using the same vision enhancement system that you are now following. He said in his letter: “I have worn reading glasses for 50 years, since I was 39. Now, after 2 months of working on the vision improvement program, I can sometimes read without glasses. I’m good at it and it doesn’t require any effort.”

Well, an amazing success, but the most interesting thing was further: “I realized that I could help myself, and I foresee even more significant changes in the future.” What youthful optimism! There is a lot to learn!

Your eyes and visual system respond positively to exercise, relaxation, and stress relief. Success in this matter depends entirely on your attitude and specific steps aimed at preserving your vision.

Our experience shows that so-called old-age vision (presbyopia) responds very well to training. Many of those who started using the program are able to not only stop the process of vision deterioration, but also restore their vision to its original clarity.

3. Vision deteriorates due to increased eye strain

The third misconception is that vision deteriorates due to increased strain on the eyes: they say that if you read a lot, or sit at the computer, or watch too much TV, you can ruin your vision.

And statistics on this issue that's how it is.

Only 2% of fourth grade students are nearsighted; in the eighth grade there are about 10-20% of them; By the time they graduate from college, 50-70% of students are already myopic. This seems to suggest that the more you read or study, the more likely you are to become nearsighted.

But the reason is not the load itself. The reason is How eyes are used when the load increases. And no one teaches in school how to “use” your eyes correctly and how to maintain the good vision you were born with.

When people are taught to see correctly, vision problems become much less common.

For example, in China, children and adults are taught simple eye exercises that they perform every day in schools or at work. And the proportion of people suffering from myopia (myopia) has decreased significantly due to this.

Unfortunately, these methods have not yet become common practice in other countries. But in some schools they were still introduced. The results are as promising as in China.

In addition, increased eye strain associated with reading and computer work requires proper nutrition of the eyes and the body as a whole, and if these requirements are not met properly, this also contributes to vision deterioration.

But, without a doubt, the wrong ones are decisive habits vision, and not by itself to the eyes. The real problem is lack of knowledge. The principles of healthy vision need to be studied, promoted and widely practiced.

There is hope that someday the general attitude towards this problem will change. But you don't have to wait. You can take action now and protect your vision by learning how to use your eyes properly.

4. Deterioration of vision is the result of weakness of the eye muscles

The fourth misconception: blurred vision is the result of weakness of the eye muscles.

In fact, the muscles around the eyes are 150-200 times stronger than necessary for them to function properly. These muscles rarely become weak. On the contrary, from constant tension they become overly strengthened, which interferes with their natural flexibility and mobility - they become stiff and inactive.

As an analogy, in a right-handed person, the muscles on the right side of the body become stronger and work with better coordination than the muscles on the left side. Why? Only because some muscles are used more often than others, and not because some are weaker than others by nature.

The same is true for the eye muscles: over time, certain habits and patterns of behavior develop, causing some eye muscles to become stronger and more coordinated than others. But the problem is not in the muscles themselves, but in habits. By changing your habits, your eyes can be retrained. And symptoms such as myopia, farsightedness, etc. will weaken or disappear.

5. Vision is only a physical, mechanical process.

The fifth misconception is based on the assertion that vision is a physical, mechanical process and normal vision is determined only by the shape of the eye. If the eye has the correct shape, then vision will be normal; If the structure of the eye is deformed, this can cause nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

In fact, the shape of the eye is one, but far from the only, element of the visual system. Let's take an example: eye doctors are well aware that two people with the same eye refraction (the ability to capture an image at a certain distance from the retina) may have different visual acuity (the ability to see letters on an optometric chart). Mechanical measurements and physical data cannot predict how well a person can see. This is due to other factors besides eye shape.

Many people report that they see better at certain times of the day. Many people report blurred vision as a result of fatigue or stress. What is causing these fluctuations?

Has it ever happened to you that while driving on the highway, you get so caught up in your thoughts that you “don’t see” the turn you need? Or are you so tired that, reading page after page, you don’t understand the words?

Vision is a dynamic, changing process dependent on many physical, emotional and mental factors. Eye shape may be a factor, but even this can change as a result of training.