1. Why Do Some People Claim Myopia Can Be Reversed?

There are a few common reasons why you might hear that nearsightedness (myopia) can be "recovered":

1. Mistaking Pseudomyopia for True Myopia

Students or people who spend long hours on near work can develop eye muscle strain, leading to "pseudomyopia."

With rest, eye drops, or relaxation training, their prescription may drop slightly, giving the impression of recovery.

However, true myopia (caused by an elongated eyeball) is irreversible.

2. Confusing Vision Training with Real Improvement

Practices like eye exercises or "focusing on distant objects" may relieve eye fatigue and temporarily improve focus.

This is a functional improvement only - it does not change the physical shape of the eye, so myopia itself does not disappear.

3. Commercial Marketing or Exaggerated Claims

Training centers, supplement brands, and optical shops often advertise "myopia recovery" or "reduced prescription" to attract parents.

In reality, most methods only help manage symptoms or slow progression, not reverse myopia.

2. Why Do People Feel These Methods Work?

Placebo Effect: Parents and children want to believe recovery is possible, so they feel encouraged by small improvements.

Short-Term Changes: After relaxation training, a prescription may drop from -5.00D to -4.75D, but this is usually due to muscle relaxation or testing error, not real reversal.

Overemphasized Cases: Rare instances of small prescription reductions are promoted as if they were common outcomes.

3. The Scientific Consensus

True myopia is irreversible: Once the eyeball elongates, it cannot shrink back.

What can be done:

Control progression with orthokeratology (OK lenses), low-dose atropine, and outdoor activities.

Correct vision with glasses, contact lenses, laser surgery (LASIK/SMILE), or ICL lens implants.