Debunking Myths

Myopia is a childhood problem. 
False. Many may not know that the risk of vision loss increases with age.

Myopia will not cause blindness. 
False. Myopia, particularly high myopia, is a complex condition and it is associated with major eye diseases that require early intervention.

Myopia can be easily treated by a pair of glasses or contact lenses. 
False. Although the patient is functionally treated with such devices, meaning that they are able to function as per normal with good vision while wearing glasses or contact lenses, the risk of visual impairment is related to the elongation of the eye ball and refractive power in eye and therefore the patient is still at risk.

Wearing pinhole glasses can train eyesight and reverse myopia.
False. Myopia cannot be reversed and can only be managed by slowing down its progression. Currently, there is no known cure for myopia. Pinhole glasses are able to ‘improve’ the vision while using it but the field of vision is severely lost.

Taking supplements such as vitamin A will prevent myopia.
False. Myopia is not caused by vitamin A deficiency. Taking vitamin A may help in certain rare eye conditions but will not help to prevent or improve vision from myopia. 

After refractive surgery (e.g., LASIK), I am no different from somebody who doesn’t wear glasses.
False. Refractive surgery only changes the front part of your eyes. Your eyes are still longer than normal. Your risks of myopia complications are the same as somebody of your degrees who has not been through refractive surgery

My young child should not wear glasses because that will cause his/her degrees to increase.
False. Not wearing glasses will not stop myopia from increasing. If anything, it may even cause your myopia to increase faster. He/she would be also disadvantaged due to poor vision. If the severity of myopia is significant and the child is very young, not correcting the refraction with glasses may lead to irreversible amblyopia (or lazy eyes).