Myopia & Nearsightedness Treatment in Kansas City, MO
Myopia (Nearsightedness) Treatment in Kansas City, MO
Myopia or nearsightedness occurs in about one-third of the US population. Some ethnicities may have over seventy percent of people with myopia. Nearsighted people may see things up close well but can not see well at distance.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia is also known as nearsightedness. It is common in the United States with one-third of the population affected. Myopia is considered a refractive error meaning the structures in the eye do not focus the light perfectly on the retina so the image is blurred or distorted . If the cornea is too steep, the lens in the eye is too strong or the eyeball is too long or a combination myopia can occur. With myopia near objects may be clear such as reading, using a smartphone or seeing foot on your dinner plate. But, objects beyond arms length may be blurred such as watching TV, driving or playing or watching sports.
People with mild myopia may be able to drive legally during the day but at night they may not feel comfortable. People with moderate myopia will need glasses for most distance activities but function at two to eight feet fine without glasses. If one is affected by extreme or severe nearsightedness the only useful unaided vision may be within 1 foot from their face.
Myopia or short-sightedness is a very common refractive error among children. With the use of smartphones and hand-held gaming devices there has been a huge increase and level of nearsightedness among children around the glove. If undetected nearsightedness can impact a child’s learning and development. Regular eye exams can diagnose and follow for progression of myopia in children so treatment can be altered as the child ages. Astigmatism is frequently associated with nearsightedness.
Symptoms and Signs of Nearsightedness
Difficulty seeing objects far away, such as road signs or a blackboard at school
Eyestrain
Headaches
Squinting to see properly
Occurs when the eye is longer than normal
Inherited condition that can become worse during teenage growth spurts
People with myopia are at higher risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts
Procedures to Treat Myopia We Provide
There are non-surgical and surgical options to correct myopia and improve nearsightedness. To date there is no medical cure for nearsightedness. Non-surgical myopia treatment options include glasses and contact lenses. Surgical myopia treatment options include advanced surface ablation or PRK, LASIK, SMILE, Intraocular Contact Lens ( ICL ), refractive lens exchange with Synergy or Panoptix IOLs or the Light Adjustable Lens.
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 to cure nearsightedness.
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 cure myopia.
PRK or advanced surface ablation can also be used to flatten the cornea. An excimer laser ( the same second laser used in LASIK ) is used to flatten the central cornea and cure nearsightedness.
Refractive Lens Exchange / Replacement can be used to treat patients over age 40 that are nearsighted and also suffer from presbyopia the inability to focus up close. There are many different intraocular lens implants ( IOLs) that can be used. Trifocal ( Synergy or Panoptix ), Extended Depth of Focus, monofocal spherical or toric or Light Adjustable Lens implants can be used.
The Light Adjustable Lens can be used for REL procedure. In this setting either both eyes can be perfectly adjusted for distance or one eye can be adjusted for increased depth of focus and the other for distance. This allows the patient to minimize or eliminate glasses for all distances. In effect the each eye receives a uniquely customized correction.
IOL
When Refractive Lens Exchange is performed a lens implant is substituted for the natural lens. Depending on the patients desires with single focus, trifocal, extended depth of focus or Light Adjustable Lens implants can be used.
ICL
The implantable contact lens ( ICL ) can be used as a vision treatment for nearsightedness. It is typically done for patients under age 40 that have higher corrections and thinner corneas or irregular corneas where laser vision correction is not an ideal option.
Myopia can also be fixed with non-surgical options. Glasses and contact lenses are the first line treatment of nearsightedness. When a patient tires of glasses and becomes intolerant of contact lenses surgical options can be considered. There at present is not a medical cure for nearsightedness.
What Causes Nearsightedness?
Myopia causes can include lifestyle ( nurture ) or genetics ( nature ). Some ethnic groups have over 70% of individuals nearsighted ( Chinese ) whereas others have incredibly low ( Inuits ). Studies have and are showing that too much time allotted to near tasks and not enough time out-of-doors can induce nearsightedness in children and adolescents. We are not exactly certain how nearsightedness develops but the associations with activities and genetics are clear.
Schedule a Myopia consultation, virtual or in-person
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.
Why Choose Myopia Specialists From Discover Vision?
The myopia specialists at Discover Vision Centers have been helping patients in the Kansas Cioty region for over 50 years. We treat nearsightedness with non-surgical treatments and provide a range of surgical treatments depending upon age and need. Our doctors are nationally and internationally known for their expertise in patient management. Our doctors and staff and assess each patient with a thorough history and complete ocular examination to confirm the health of all eye structures. Once this is done the best solution for the patient’s situation will be discussed
Schedule a Myopia consultation, virtual or in-person
They are very friendly and very professional. They have a wide array of knowledge on anything to do with your eyes when it comes to questions. They always want to make sure that you are happy with your visit or in my case my surgery. I had lasik and it is the best decision I have ever made. I am over joyed by the outcome and even happier with the 20/20 vision I now have.
Thomas Hook
Everyone at the Leawood office is fabulous. Dr Lile and Dr Doane are amazing. Office and nurse staff is friendly, professional and helpful. Eye exam and procedures are thoroughly explained and questions answered. So glad I decided to go to that location. Thank you all!!
Jane Schneider
I have gone to Discover Vision for years. Dr. Doane has been my eye doctor. He is a great eye doctor. Everyone at Discover Vision is pleasant and helpful.
Myopia can progress over time but for most people it stabilizes with body maturation. There is a progressive form of myopia called pathologic myopia that can become extreme and progress but this condition is relatively uncommon.
Can myopia lead to blindness?
Rarely myopia can be associated with blindness. Myopia is associated length. Longer eyes do have a higher chance of retinal hole, tear or detachment. If properly managed these patients do well.
Is nearsightedness genetic?
There is genetic or hereditary associations with myopia. It can run in certain ethnic groups and certainly families.
