Nearsightedness is a common vision condition that negatively affects your ability to see distant objects clearly. The medical term for nearsightedness is in fact myopia. Contrast this with presbyopia, or hyperopia, which is farsightedness – and which many more people have.
The best way to remember the distinction is to align the names with being right-handed and left-handed. If you’re right-handed, your right hand is stronger than the left; if you’re near-sighted, your near vision is stronger than your faraway vision, and you probably need glasses to drive a car but not to read. People with myopia are able to see close objects clearly, but objects farther away appear blurry or out of focus.
Myopia affects more than 40% of the U.S. population today. If the condition affects your ability to perform tasks or is accompanied with other symptoms, such as headaches or eye strain, your eye doctor may recommend that you consider LASIK surgery (laser in-situ keratomileusis surgery) to correct your vision.
Let’s talk about how myopia develops, how it can be treated, and where you can go in Miami and Coral Gables for reliable myopia-correction laser eye surgery.
What Causes Myopia?
In order to produce a clear image, the eye needs to be a perfectly shaped sphere. However, in a lifestyle where you’re reading a lot or looking at a computer screen, your near-vision gets a lot of exercise but your far-vision is neglected – so it actually begins to deteriorate, like a muscle that isn’t exercised. The shape of the eyeball therefore changes.
Myopia typically results when the eye grows slightly too long in length from front to back, or when the cornea is too steeply curved. This prevents light from being properly focused onto the retina in the back of the eye, thereby resulting in blurred or distorted vision.
Some people may only experience blurred distance vision at night, when there are low light levels that make it difficult for the eyes to focus on faraway objects. This is known as night myopia.
Symptoms of Nearsightedness
The main symptoms of myopia include:
- Blurry or out-of-focus vision when looking at distant objects, such as a TV screen or school whiteboard
- Squinting in order to see clearly
- Headaches/eyestrain
- Problems seeing and reading signs when driving a vehicle
In addition to these symptoms, a child with myopia may also:
- Rub their eyes frequently
- Blink excessively
- Be unaware of distant objects or signs
- Need to sit nearer to the television or in front of the classroom to see better
How Is Myopia Diagnosed and Treated?
An eye doctor can evaluate the type and extent of your vision problem by performing an eye examination, including a refraction assessment. Your eye doctor can then advise you about which treatment options are available and are most suitable to correct your condition.
Treatments can vary depending on factors such as your age, health, the degree of your vision problem, and personal preferences, but they typically include:
- Prescription eyeglasses
- Prescription contact lenses
- Refractive laser eye surgery, such as LASIK
How Does LASIK Laser Eye Surgery Work?
LASIK eye surgery is a safe and very effective type of laser surgery that is performed to correct refractive vision problems, including myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (a defect in the shape of the eye). It is a quick procedure that involves reshaping the eye’s cornea in order to improve clarity of vision.
The treatment is customized to suit a patient’s specific requirements, enabling them to see clearly without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Who Is a Candidate for LASIK Eye Surgery?
Typically, being a good candidate for LASIK surgery will depend on the following:
- Stability of prescription (vision has not changed much over the past 1-2 years)
- Healthy eyes
- Adult age (must be at least 18 years old)
- Good physical health (conditions such as diabetes or an autoimmune disease may prevent you from having LASIK eye surgery)
Myopia Correction Surgery in Miami, Florida
If you have myopia and are looking for a long-term treatment solution to prevent the need for glasses or contact lenses, contact The Laser Center of Coral Gables. Our dedicated team of professional eye doctors can confirm which refractive vision procedure is best for you, and we will administer the laser eye surgery that will enable you to get rid of those glasses and contacts for good.
To learn more or to find out whether you are a candidate for LASIK eye surgery, call us today to schedule a consultation at (305) 461-0003, or fill out our convenient online contact form. We look forward to helping you see clearly!
