top of page
Myopia Key Terms
Welcome to our comprehensive glossary of myopia-related terms. This curated collection aims to enhance your understanding of myopia and its associated concepts, providing clear and concise explanations for concerned parents, curious individuals, and healthcare professionals.
-
20/20/2 ruleFor every 20 minutes of close work your child does, ask them to take a 20-second break looking into the distance and make sure your child spends at least 2 hours per day outside.
-
Axial LengthThe distance from the front surface of the cornea to the back surface of the eye, known as the retina. It is an important factor in myopia progression.
-
Axial MyopiaThis occurs when the optical system is correctly powered but the eyeball has increased in length, increasing the focal length and causing light to be focused in front of the retina.
-
Atropine EyedropsA medication used to dilate the pupils and temporarily paralyze the eye's focusing mechanism, prescribed for myopia control, cycloplegic refraction, and certain inflammatory eye conditions.
-
CataractsCataracts refer to the clouding of the eye's natural lens, leading to blurred or impaired vision, often associated with aging, certain medical conditions, or trauma.
-
CorneaThe clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye that covers the iris and the pupil. It plays a vital role in focusing light onto the retina.
-
DiopterA unit of measurement used to quantify the strength of a lens or the degree of refractive error in the eye. It indicates how much the eye needs to focus light to see clearly.
-
GlaucomaA group of eye conditions characterized by increased intraocular pressure, which can damage the optic nerve and cause gradual loss of peripheral vision and, if left untreated, lead to blindness.
-
Hyperopic defocus blurIs the action of deliberately inducing out-of-focus images on the peripheral retina while maintaining clear vision on the central retina.
-
Myopic MaculopathyA condition associated with severe myopia that involves degenerative changes in the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for detailed vision, which can result in vision loss or distortion.
-
MyopiaAlso known as short-sightedness, myopia is a refractive error of the eye that causes distant objects to appear blurry, while close objects can be seen clearly.
-
Optic NerveA bundle of nerve fibres that carries visual information from the retina to the brain, allowing us to perceive and interpret what we see.
-
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)A non-surgical method of correcting myopia by using specially designed rigid gas permeable contact lenses to reshape the cornea over time while you sleep.
-
PresbyopiaAn age-related condition characterized by the loss of the eye's ability to focus on close objects due to the natural aging process of the lens.
-
Retinal DetachmentRetinal detachment occurs when the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, becomes separated from its underlying tissues, leading to a sudden or gradual loss of vision, which may require immediate medical attention.
-
Refractive MyopiaThis occurs when either one or more of the optical surfaces becoming too steep and/or where the refractive index of the optical media is too high.
-
Red Light TherapyAn emerging myopia control approach that utilises specific wavelengths of red light to potentially slow down the progression of myopia.
-
RetinaThe light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye that receives and processes visual information, converting it into electrical signals sent to the brain via the optic nerve.
-
Refractive ErrorA condition in which the eye does not bend or focus light properly, resulting in blurred vision. Myopia is one type of refractive error.
bottom of page