What Is Adult-Onset Myopia? And What You Can Do About It

Worsening vision in adulthood is a common, but unfortunate, occurrence. After all, the rest of our bodies deteriorate as we age, so it would make sense that our eyes would, too. And so, to some extent, experiencing presbyopia as we get older is perfectly normal and even unavoidable. However, it’s normal to worry about some types of adult vision changes and how they might impact our lifestyle, like adult-onset myopia.

Many people think of refractive errors as something you are born with. After all, if one parent wears glasses, it’s often the case that the children do, too. However, myopia is a condition that can develop with age due to a range of environmental and lifestyle factors. Learning about adult-onset myopia and what you can do to prevent it can offer peace of mind.

What Causes Myopia in Adults?

If you’ve been wondering whether it’s even possible to develop myopia as an adult, the answer is yes. In fact, many people will develop some form of myopia as they age. This is because one of the main causes of myopia is environmental factors, like near work and excessive digital device use. The other major cause of myopia is biological — if your parents or grandparents had it, you are more likely to develop it as well.

Myopia in adults is often referred to by two different names: adult-onset myopia and adult progressive myopia. While one may seem more serious than the other, the good news is that the terms are essentially interchangeable. Both mean that your myopia developed or progressed after the age of 18.

Of course, it makes sense that adult-onset myopia is on the rise in concordance with the major increase in screen time many adults have experienced in the last decade. According to StatPearls, “current forecasts suggest that by 2050,  4.8 to 5 billion people will have myopia, with 1 billion experiencing high myopia, constituting a significant global health challenge.” While digital eye strain in itself is not a direct cause of nearsightedness, you can develop myopia from computer use. So, if you are beginning to feel symptoms of eye strain, it’s a good idea to take action.

Tips to Fix Adult Nearsightedness

While changes in vision as you age are somewhat inevitable, there are certain things you can do to slow down adult progressive myopia. By taking environmental, lifestyle, and dietary factors into consideration, you can do a lot to slow and even fix myopia in adults.

Environmental and Lifestyle Factors and Adult-Onset Myopia

One of the biggest reasons people develop adult progressive myopia is due to their environment. This goes hand-in-hand with their lifestyle as well. Most of us live and work in an urban environment during our adult lives. This naturally limits the amount of time we spend outside, which can contribute to the development of nearsightedness in adults. Daily light exposure under 3,000 lux, typical of indoor environments, is linked to faster myopia progression.

The majority of our time being spent indoors also often means that we spend the majority of our time on nearwork activities. When you spend too much time looking at things up close, it’s no wonder that you might feel your distance vision blurry over time. Excessive digital device use (and the light emitted from screens) may also cause your eyesight to worsen. It’s clear that both lifestyle and environment can greatly increase your chances of adult-onset myopia.

So, one of the best things you can do to slow myopia progression is to make sure you get outside. If you work in an office, try to take your lunch break in the sunlight. In the office, try to let in as much natural light as possible, while also being mindful of screen glare — glare can contribute to digital eye strain. And, in between your breaks outdoors, practice the 10-10-10 rule, which can help relax your eye muscles in the interim.

Dietary Factors As Myopia Control Strategies

Of course, you can always turn to your diet to help prevent and slow adult progressive myopia. While large-scale studies regarding the efficacy of using supplements to prevent and slow myopia have not yet been conducted, smaller range studies have shown promising results.

Some of the best nutrients for myopia include lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and its companion nutrient, zeaxanthin, are two carotenoids that are found in the retina of our eyes and in highly pigmented vegetables. The main purpose of this pair is to absorb light to prevent damage.

Some traces of lutein and zeaxanthin are also found in the eye’s macula and the lens. These two parts of the eye are often affected by disease and loss of vision because they are two of the most sensitive parts of the eye. By consuming additional lutein and zeaxanthin, you help your eyes become more resistant to damage from light, which in turn may help prevent myopia diagnosis in adults.

You can find these nutrients naturally in the following foods:

• Spinach
• Sweet bell peppers
• Kale
• Corn
• Broccoli
• Oranges
• Squash
• Melon
• Kiwi
• Zucchini
• Carrots

Your body best absorbs these nutrients when consumed with a meal that is high in fat. By consuming lutein and zeaxanthin with an avocado or a nice steak or piece of fish, you will ensure your eyes get the maximum benefits.

Slowing the Progression of Myopia

While you may not be able to avoid vision changes entirely as you age, there is a lot you can do to slow them down. By consuming the right nutrients and making sure you are doing your best to mitigate damage from environmental factors, you can hopefully avoid needing new prescription lenses to correct your myopia at this stage of your life. However, it’s still recommended to visit your eye doctor regularly to ensure there are no glaring concerns with your changing vision.

However, if you suddenly develop myopia, seek help as soon as you can. Sudden nearsightedness in adults is never normal and may be a sign of a more serious issue like diabetic retinopathy. Myopia symptoms in adults have also been reported in pregnant women, meaning that hormones can be a factor. Either way, it’s best to visit your eye doctor if you notice vision changes, no matter how sudden.