Myopia or nearsightedness occurs in about one-third of the US population. Some ethnicities may have more than seventy percent of people with myopia. Being nearsighted means that you see things up close better than you see at distance. Treatment options may include LASIK, SMILE or PRK. Laser eye surgery for nearsightedness was first approved by the FDA in the United States in 1995.
If you are nearsighted, you may be interested to learn more about myopia. For starters, myopia or nearsightedness is a common refractive condition of the eye with one-third of the population affected in the United States. A myopic eye is where the cornea is too steep, the eyeball is too long, or a combination of the two can occur. In myopia or nearsighted vision, it is easier to view objects at an arms length such as using a computer. Objects in the distance, such as when driving, watching TV, or playing sports are blurred. Patients may wonder what is myopia surgery? Myopia laser vision correction is a corneal procedure such as Lasik or SMILE that reshapes the eye. By flattening the curvature of the cornea with refractive surgery, light rays will refocus correctly onto the retina resulting in a clear image.
Myopia is classified into three categories depending on severity:
Low myopia patients may not need glasses full time. They don’t need to wear glasses for near activities, but will likely need them for tasks such as driving.
Patients with moderate nearsightedness usually need to wear glasses full-time.
Extreme nearsightedness may make things blurry far away and up close, due to the very short focal point of the eye which can be mere inches away from a patient’s face.
Myopia or short-sightedness is a very common refractive condition. With the heavy use of smartphones and digital devices there has been a population-wide increase in the level of near-sightedness. Regular eye exams can diagnose and follow for the progression of myopia. Myopia can become worse during growth spurts. People with myopia are at higher risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts.
Symptoms of myopia include:
Surgical myopia treatment options include LASIK, SMILE, PRK, Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL), and Intraocular lens replacements also known as refractive lens replacement (RLE).
In myopia, the cornea, or front surface of the eye, is too steep. All laser LASIK uses two lasers to reshape the front surface of the cornea. The first laser creates a flap that is lifted and the second laser flattens the undersurface. The flap is then repositioned. Recovery from LASIK surgery is quick, with minimal discomfort.
SMILE is an eye surgery for nearsightedness and works by creating a small incision in which a thin layer of tissue is removed to flatten the central cornea and eliminate myopia.
SMILE is a flapless and bladeless procedure that offers faster recovery, less discomfort, and fewer complications compared to traditional LASIK surgery.
PRK can also be used to flatten the cornea. It involves removing the surface layer of the cornea, known as the epithelium. An excimer laser (the same second laser used in LASIK) is then used to reshape the central cornea to fix the nearsightedness. Following surgery, a contact lens is placed on the eye while it heals. PRK offers great visual outcomes for patients who don’t qualify for LASIK or SMILE.
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) / Replacement surgery can be used to treat patients over 40 who suffer from presbyopia, hyperopia, myopia with or without astigmatism. The procedure involves removing the natural lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). There are many different intraocular lens implants (IOLs) that can be used. RLE is also recommended for patients who are not suitable for other types of corneal laser eye surgery.
The Light Adjustable Lens is a type of IOL used in lens replacement or cataract surgery
that uses a specialized lens that can be adjusted after it has been implanted in the eye. The LAL lens is made of a specialized photosensitive material that reacts to UV light. This allows the doctor to fine-tune the lens power more accurately. Each eye receives a uniquely customized correction minimizing or eliminating the need for glasses.
When Refractive Lens Exchange or cataract surgery is performed, a lens implant is substituted for the natural lens. Intraocular lenses are artificial lenses made up of a plastic material, silicone or acrylic. There are various types of IOLs available which correct different types of refractive error and meet a variety of patient visual needs.
The implantable contact lens, also known as implantable collamer lens, or ICL is an alternative to LASIK, SMILE and PRK. For patients with high levels of nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism, and thinner corneas the ICL may be the preferred solution. The procedure involves implanting a small, flexible lens into the eye behind the iris and in front of the natural lens.
Eyeglasses are a common treatment solution for nearsightedness. They are helpful for younger patients as they can be changed or updated as the eye continues to change until stable.
Many patents will use a combination of eyeglasses with contact lens wear. Astigmatism can be helped with contacts as well.
Myopia causes can include lifestyle (nurture) or genetics (nature). For some ethnicities, up to 70% of individuals may be nearsighted, whereas others have incredibly low occurrence of myopia. Studies have shown that too much time allotted to near tasks and not enough time outdoors can induce nearsightedness in children and adolescents. We are not exactly certain how nearsightedness develops but the associations with activities and genetics are clear.
Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, occurs when the eye is too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of on it. This results in distant objects appearing blurry. Genetics is one of the major causes of myopia, but environmental factors such as prolonged near work and lack of outdoor activity may also be causes of nearsighted onset and progression.
Detecting myopia is very easily done at the eye doctor’s office. Your distance and near vision are tested without correction and then lenses are put in front of your eye to see if they help improve a nearsighted person’s distance vision. Some tests are manual but many are computerized.
To diagnose myopia, an eye doctor will typically perform a comprehensive exam, which may include the following tests:
Visual acuity test: measures how well you see letters on an eye chart from a specific distance.
Refraction: measures the degree of myopia and determines the prescription for glasses or contact lenses
Autorefraction: an instrument automatically measures the prescription to help with a myopia diagnosis
Slit-lamp exam: the eye doctor will assess the structures of the eye from front to back
The myopia specialists at Discover Vision Centers have been helping patients in the Kansas City region for over 50 years. We treat nearsightedness with non-surgical options and also provide a range of surgical treatments depending upon age and need.
Request a Free LASIK Consult, Virtual or In-Office. A Virtual LASIK consult only takes 15-20 minutes and is a video chat between you and one of our refractive optometrists. The only thing you need is your current glasses or contact lens prescription to discuss options with the doctor. If a virtual consult is performed, and you decide to move ahead with surgery, additional tests will be performed on the day of surgery to take more precise measurements and check the overall health of your eyes.
During an in-office consult, you should plan on a 1-2 hour visit. Our team will perform several tests and discuss your lifestyle and vision goals with you. If you are a candidate for surgery, the doctor will recommend the procedure that is best for you along with a detailed description of all costs.
Typically diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, myopia progression slows down in early adulthood. In some cases, myopia may get worse with age. Myopia progression in adulthood is known as progressive myopia. Genetics and environment can influence progression.
In most cases, myopia does not lead to blindness. Very high levels of myopia, combined with family history, can increase the risk of certain eye conditions that can potentially cause vision loss or blindness. One of the primary risks associated with high myopia is retinal detachment.
Genetics do play a part in the development of nearsightedness. The two biggest factors are nature (genetics) and nurture as it pertains to activities and lifestyle.
Nearsightedness usually does not improve with age. In fact, it usually starts in adolescence and stabilizes in late teens or early twenties. A small minority of patients with extreme myopia may continue to change beyond their twenties.
At Discover Vision Centers, myopia surgical options are based on the amount of correction needed. The best place to begin is by scheduling a FREE LASIK consult, virtual or in-office.
