If you need glasses to see things across the room or to drive you likely are nearsighted. An alternative to glasses and contact lenses is LASIK. Another term for nearsightedness is myopia and LASIK can fix myopia.
If you need glasses to see things across the room or to drive you likely are nearsighted. An alternative to glasses and contact lenses is LASIK. Another term for nearsightedness is myopia and LASIK can fix myopia.
Nearsightedness, short-sightedness or myopia are all the same condition. Myopia often runs in families and typically begins in childhood. It can progress into early adulthood. People with nearsightedness have difficulty seeing at distance. Examples might be inability to see television from across the room or being required to have glasses or contact lenses to drive a car. Eye strain is a common complaint for those that are nearsighted when they do not wear correction. They frequently will squint their eyelids in hopes of improving their vision.
Nearsightedness, or myopia, occurs when light rays focus too far in front of the retina making things look blurry at a distance. Myopia can result from an eye that is either too long, or the corneal shape is too steep. Glasses and contacts alter how light focuses through the eye by bending the light rays. Lasik provides a long term solution to achieving clear vision through reshaping the cornea. A laser creates a flap, which is folded out of the way. A laser then sculpts a layer of underlying corneal tissue. Some of the corneal tissue is removed, which causes a flattening effect to the front surface of the eye. Light can then correctly focus onto the retina, resulting in a clear image. Patients with a stable prescription are potential candidates for lasik eye surgery for myopia.
Myopic eyes are too long, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina. Lasik eye surgery for nearsightedness reshapes the curvature of the cornea. Flattening the cornea changes how light enters the eye, and refocuses them onto the retina.
Because Lasik reshapes the cornea, it can correct a variety of refractive errors simultaneously. Lasik surgery for myopia and astigmatism is an effective way to obtain good visual results.
If you are interested in correcting your myopia or nearsightedness, you should consult with your eye doctor for additional testing. Your prescription will be one of the things measured during the LASIK consultation. Refractive error is measured in Diopter units of power, which makes up the prescription. Modern technology now allows for high myopia LASIK. We can fix up to -12.0 Diopters, which is the LASIK myopia limit. Patients with unstable, or progressive myopia are not a candidate for LASIK.
Beyond prescription there are other factors and tests that determine candidacy:
You may need to be out of your contact lenses for a short period of time prior to your surgery date. Precise measurements will be taken pre-op on the day of LASIK surgery.
Myopia, or Nearsightedness, is a common developmental vision condition that begins in early childhood or adolescence. In myopia, light rays focus prematurely in front of the retina. The eye stops growing in early adulthood and the vision prescription stabilizes.
During LASIK, a laser creates a flap in the cornea. The flap is folded back so that the laser can then sculpt and remove underlying corneal tissue. Removing corneal tissue flattens the cornea. The flap is then folded back into place. The newly shaped eye allows light to focus correctly on the retina, or the back surface of the eye.
Following Lasik surgery, you will need a driver to take you home. Vision may be a bit blurry, which is expected after a surgical procedure. There are guidelines for early recovery to ensure your healing is off to a great start:
Vision may be slightly blurry or foggy temporarily. Your eyes may water. A slight stinging sensation or itch is common and goes away after a few hours. Vision improves quickly, and will stabilize over the next few days.
LASIK surgery is an investment in your vision and quality of life. LASIK for nearsightedness cost may seem to be a limiting factor for potential candidates. Upfront costs appear steep, but there are a variety of options to make it affordable for any budget. It is worth comparing the costs to contact lenses, solutions, and eyeglasses which add up quickly over a lifetime.
Since LASIK is considered elective, most health insurance will not cover the costs. Lasik can be paid for with cash, check, or credit card. Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts may be applied to cover the costs of LASIK. Patients can also utilize financing options that are recommended and approved by their healthcare provider.
At Discover Vision Centers, we specialize in educating and empowering patients throughout their laser vision correction journey. As a patient considering Lasik surgery, DVC will ensure that you are informed and feel comfortable every step of the way. We are invested in you, and are here to help you to achieve your best possible vision.
Discover Vision Centers has been serving the Kansas City community for over 50 years. Dr. John Doane has been performing laser vision correction since 1995. He has been ranked among the top 5% of Laser vision surgeons in the country. Our Refractive Team has performed over 45,000 vision correction procedures and has been instrumental in pioneering the latest solutions in Vision Correction and advanced microsurgery. For more information on SMILE, call 816.283.EYES.
Dr. Randy T. Jackson is a board certified ophthalmologist who specializes in refractive surgery, including SMILE, LASIK Laser Vision Correction, Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), Full Focus® Vision Correction and cataract surgery. For more information on SMILE, call 816.283.EYES.
Yes, LASIK can correct your full range of vision. When nearsighted, or myopic, it is difficult to see clearly far away. Myopic patients may still need additional correction to see up close if they have presbyopia. Presbyopia is a natural aging change to the crystalline lens inside the eye. LASIK can correct myopia and presbyopia using monovision or blended vision.
Research studies show that LASIK is safe and effective for patients with high myopia. Patients who undergo a LASIK consultation are evaluated with strict selection criteria prior to determining candidacy. Patients must have enough corneal thickness for high myopia LASIK correction.
While refractive surgery can successfully treat myopia, there are certain circumstances in which myopia could return after LASIK. The adult eye is typically done growing in the mid 20s. For patients with progressive or pathological myopia, however, the axial length of the eye could continue to grow even into later adulthood. Progressive myopia in adulthood is not possible to prevent, but can be screened for prior to LASIK.
