Myopia corrections - glasses, contacts & laser surgery

Myopia treatment or vision correction is done using eyeglasses, contact lenses, orthokeratology, laser/other surgeries and vision therapy.

Myopia treatment options

Persons with myopia have several options available to regain clear distance vision. They include:

• Eyeglasses
• contact lenses
• orthokeratology
• laser and other refractive surgery procedures
• vision therapy for persons with stress-related nearsightedness.

Myopia correction by Eye glasses

Eyeglasses are the most commonly preferred correction for nearsightedness.  Generally, a single vision lens is prescribed to provide clear vision at all distances.  However, for patients over about age 40, or children and adults whose myopia is due to the stress of near vision, a bifocal or progressive addition lens may be prescribed. These multi-focal lenses provide different powers of strengths throughout the lens to allow for clear vision in the distance and also clear vision in the nearer distance.

A large selection of lens types and frame designs are available for patients of all ages. Eye glasses are no longer just a vision correction, but can also be a fashion item. They are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colors and materials that not only correct for vision problems but also may enhance the appearance.

Myopia correction by Contact lenses

For some patients, contact lenses can provide better vision than eyeglasses. They may provide clear vision and a wider field of view. However, since contact lenses are wear directly on the eyes, they require regular maintenance, that is cleaning and certain amount of care is required to safeguard eye health.

Orthokeratology - Reshaping Eyes with Contact Lenses

Otherwise called as corneal refractive therapy; a procedure by fitting a series of contact lenses to reshape the cornea (the front outer surface of the eye).  The contact lenses are worn daily for limited periods, such as overnight and some in day time, and then removed. Persons with moderate amounts of nearsightedness may be able to temporarily obtain clear vision for most of their daily activities.

Myopia correction by Laser surgery

Nearsightedness can also be corrected by reshaping the cornea using a laser beam of light. Two commonly used procedures are

• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and
• Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

In PRK, a laser is used to remove a thin layer of tissue from the cornea surface in order to change its shape and refocuses the light entering the eye on to the retina. The amount of nearsightedness that can be corrected by PRK is limited by the amount of corneal tissue that can be removed safely by PRK.

LASIK does not remove tissue from the surface of the cornea instead from its inner layers. To perform this, a section of the outer corneal layer is cut and folded back to expose the inner tissue. Then a laser beam is utilized to remove the precise amount of corneal tissue needed to reshape the eye, and then the outer cornea tissue in placed back in position to heal. The amount of nearsightedness that can be corrected by LASIK is limited by the amount of corneal tissue that can be removed safely by LASIK.

Myopia vision correction by Intraocular lens

People with high myopia or those with very thin corneas make it difficult to perform laser procedures, has another option called intraocular lens. Myopia surgically corrected by implanting small lenses (intraocular lens) in to the eyes. This intraocular lenses look like small contact lenses and they supply the needed optical correction directly inside the eye.

Myopia vision correction by Vision therapy

Vision therapy is an option for people whose blurred distance vision is caused by a spasm of the muscles which control eye focusing. Various eye exercises can be used to improve poor eye focusing ability and regain clear distance vision.

People with myopia have a variety of options to correct their vision problem. In consultation with the optometrist, one can select the treatment that best meets the visual and lifestyle needs.