[Myopia--a disease or a physiological defect?].

Abstract

Many investigations have been carried out during the last 150 years to detect factors which cause nearsightedness (myopia). A factor that has been awarded particular attention in addition to hereditary factors is the influence of the environment, especially the amount of close work on the refractive state of the eye. The increasing prevalence of myopia among children and young people revealed in some populations has been related to stressing educational systems, which are suspected of enhancing the changes in the growth of the eye leading to myopia. However, the direct etiological relationship between the myopia and prolonged accommodation during the close work has still to be established. The prevalence of myopia in Norway is not known, but relatively high prevalence was found in a recent study among medical students and physicians. At the present time, increasing interest is being shown for keratorefractive surgery to correct myopia. Both radial keratotomy and excimer laser photorefractive keratomileusis have become available in Norway, and a few hundred patients have been operated. The purpose of this article is to elucidate some important aspects in understanding the etiology, development and correction of myopia.