Struggling to read a distant sign, squinting at the movie screen, or noticing road signs too late while driving - these are some of the most common signs of myopia. Many of the customers who visit our shop in Kemalpaşa and across İzmir come to us with these exact complaints, and quite a few have been living with the condition for a long time without realizing it. Myopia is a very common refractive error, and once you understand it, managing it isn't difficult at all.
What Is Myopia? A Clear, Simple Definition
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a condition in which the eye cannot clearly focus on distant objects. Normally, light entering the eye should focus directly on the retina. In myopia, however, this focal point falls just in front of the retina. The result: nearby objects look sharp, while distant ones appear blurry.
Myopia is not a disease - it's a refractive error, meaning the eye doesn't bend light correctly. It's caused by the shape or length of the eye and can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or, in suitable cases, laser surgery. While only an ophthalmologist can make a medical diagnosis, getting a refraction measurement is the right first step toward identifying any refractive error.
Symptoms of Myopia: How to Recognize It in Yourself
The clearest sign of myopia is blurry distance vision, but it isn't always obvious right away. Here are the symptoms to watch for:
Difficulty reading distant text, signs, or screens
Frequent squinting (which temporarily sharpens vision)
Headaches after long screen sessions or driving
Noticeably worse night vision compared to daytime
Comfortable reading up close but straining to watch TV
In children, the signs can look different: sitting too close to the board, frequent blinking, or an unexplained drop in school performance. If you or your child shows these symptoms, visiting an optician for an eye test is a smart first step.
How to Read a Myopia Prescription: What Does the Minus Number Mean?
If you see a minus (-) sign in the SPH column of your prescription, you have myopia. That negative value is expressed in diopters and indicates how much correction your eye needs.
The other columns matter too:
SPH (Sphere): Indicates myopia or hyperopia. Negative for myopia, positive for hyperopia.
CYL (Cylinder): The amount of astigmatism. It can occur alongside myopia.
AX (Axis): Indicates the direction of the astigmatism, ranging from 0 to 180 degrees.
These numbers can look intimidating the first time you see them. Don't worry - your optician will walk you through your prescription.
Mild, Moderate, and High Myopia: What They Mean in Daily Life
The degree of myopia affects everyday life in different ways:
Mild myopia (-1.00 to -3.00) Distance vision is blurry, but close-up tasks are fine. Some people in this range think they can manage without glasses - but constant squinting leads to eye strain and headaches.
Moderate myopia (-3.00 to -6.00) Eyeglasses or contact lenses are nearly essential. Driving without correction is both difficult and dangerous. Annual prescription checks are especially important at this level.
High myopia (above -6.00) The retina is under more strain, and over time the risk of complications like retinal detachment or glaucoma may increase. Regular follow-up with an ophthalmologist is essential at this level. An optician can measure your prescription and recommend the right product, but medical follow-up is the eye doctor's responsibility.
What Causes Myopia? Genetics and Environment
Two main factors drive the development of myopia: genetic predisposition and environmental conditions.
If one or both parents are nearsighted, a child's risk of developing myopia rises significantly. But genetics alone don't tell the whole story. Recent research shows that increased screen time at close range and less time spent outdoors are accelerating the progression of myopia.
The protective effect of daylight is especially striking: bright daylight (10,000 lux and above) boosts dopamine release in the retina, which helps slow axial elongation of the eye. Indoor lighting falls far below that threshold. According to the International Myopia Institute's (IMI) 2023 guidelines, about 2 hours of outdoor activity per day has been identified as a protective threshold for delaying the onset of myopia. A meta-analysis by Xiong and colleagues, covering more than 10,000 participants, found that every additional hour of outdoor time per week reduces the risk of myopia by roughly 2%.
Important note: outdoor activity won't stop myopia entirely, but it can slow its progression. We recommend talking to your eye doctor about this.
"Does eye strain cause myopia?" is one of the questions we hear most. The clear answer: eye strain creates temporary discomfort, but there's no strong evidence that it directly causes myopia. That said, long hours of close-up work can speed up myopia progression, especially in people who are genetically predisposed.
Globally, the picture is serious: according to WHO's 2019 projections, by 2050 nearly 50% of the world's population - about 4.9 billion people - will be nearsighted. In Europe, myopia rates among young adults have climbed from 20–25% in the 1990s to 35–45% in the 2020s (IMI 2023). Regional studies in Turkey report myopia prevalence among school-aged children in the 9–15% range.
How Myopia Progresses in Children: A Note to Parents
Between ages 6 and 18, the eye is still growing and developing. That's why myopia often appears earlier and progresses faster during these years. A 2021 study published in The Lancet Digital Health documented how the COVID-19 pandemic - with its increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity - accelerated myopia progression in children.
The tricky part about myopia in children is this: kids say "I can see fine" because they have no reference point for comparison. Sitting close to the board, frequent blinking, holding books very close to their face, or a sudden drop in school performance - these are the warning signs to watch for.
Myopia control methods like orthokeratology (overnight contact lenses) and specially designed contact lenses are available, but these options must always be planned with an eye doctor's evaluation. An optician can provide initial guidance and point you in the right direction.
Annual prescription checks are especially important at this age. A child's prescription can change significantly in just one year, and an incorrect prescription affects both comfort and visual development.
Glasses, Contacts, or Laser: Which Is Right for Myopia?
There are three main ways to correct myopia, and each has its own advantages.
Prescription glasses are the most common and safest option. They require no maintenance and are practical for everyday use. Minus-powered lenses help focus light correctly onto the retina. If you have astigmatism along with myopia, a single pair of prescription glasses can correct both. If you also want sun protection, you can learn more about getting prescription sunglasses made.
Contact lenses are a great alternative for people who don't want the look or limitations of a frame. They're especially practical for sports. But strict hygiene is a must - putting lenses in with dirty hands can lead to serious eye infections. You can ask us in person about contact lens options in detail.
Laser surgery (LASIK, PRK) offers a permanent solution, but not every eye is a candidate. Corneal thickness, degree of myopia, and age all factor in. The decision and suitability assessment belongs entirely to an ophthalmologist - an optician can offer guidance but cannot make this call.
Optician or Eye Doctor in İzmir? Knowing the Difference
We hear this question all the time in our shop, and we want to give you a clear answer.
What does an optician do? Performs eye tests (refraction measurements), reads existing prescriptions, and helps you choose the right glasses or lenses. An optician can also spot warning signs during initial screening and refer you to the right specialist. You can learn more about our eye testing service here.
What does an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) do? Makes medical diagnoses, identifies eye diseases, decides on laser or surgical treatment, and prescribes medication. Conditions like retinal disorders, glaucoma, and cataracts fall entirely within the ophthalmologist's scope.
The two roles aren't competitors - they're complementary. You can have your prescription measured at an optician and get your glasses made there. If you suspect any underlying eye problem, you should see an ophthalmologist. A good optician knows where that line is and refers you in time.
A recent customer in his mid-30s came in to update his glasses, and his case was typical. He'd been getting frequent headaches and tired eyes by the end of each day - he assumed it was just stress and a heavy workload. His old prescription was 4 years old, and his current glasses had been made from it. When we measured his eyes, we found that his myopia had increased by half a diopter, and a small amount of astigmatism had developed too. A few weeks later, he came back and told us the headaches had eased once he started wearing the correctly prescribed glasses. So check the date on your prescription - if it's more than 2 years old, getting re-measured is a good habit.
Getting Your Eyes Tested for Myopia in Kemalpaşa: What to Expect
At İlhan Optik in Kemalpaşa, our eye testing process moves through a few clear steps. First, our screening instruments take baseline measurements. Then our optician reviews the data with you and works together with you to determine the right prescription and product. If you already have a prescription, we can review it and compare it against your current readings.
If we notice anything unusual, we refer you to an eye doctor. This is standard practice for us - we care about more than just selling you a pair of glasses; we want to make sure you get the right follow-up.
We're about 25 minutes from Bornova and roughly 35 minutes from Buca. You'll find us on Kirazlı Caddesi in the Mehmet Akif Ersoy neighborhood. For customers coming from other parts of İzmir, our appointment system makes things easier - you can be tested right away with no waiting.
If you're seeing distant things blurry or catching yourself squinting often, an eye test is a smart first step. Book an eye test appointment or send us any questions on WhatsApp. If you'd like to learn more about us, take a look at our about page for İlhan Optik Kemalpaşa.
A Note from İlhan Optik
At our shop in Kemalpaşa, we're often the first to spot myopia in our customers. Many people hesitate to say "I can't see far away clearly," or they assume it's just part of getting older. But myopia can appear at any age, and most of the time, a simple pair of glasses takes care of it. What matters most to us is making sure each customer feels comfortable with the right prescription - a wrong one can cause everything from headaches to trouble concentrating. Because we're right in the neighborhood, customers often drop by while picking up their kids from school, and we run a quick test on the spot. Whatever question brings you in, we try to give honest guidance. We aren't here to push a sale - we're here to find the right solution.
