What Causes Myopia?

Myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long and/or the cornea is too curved. This causes light rays to focus at a point in front of the retina, instead of reaching the surface of the retina, resulting in blurred vision when trying to focus on an object in the distance.

What are the Symptoms of Myopia?

• Eyestrain
• Squinting
• Difficulty seeing long distance
• Headaches & fatigue when driving or playing sports

If you find yourself squinting and experiencing eye strain when trying to focus on road signage, TV, cinema and classroom white boards, but have no issues with focusing on close up objects like computers or books, then there is a good chance that you have myopia.

How will a LASERSIGHT Doctor Diagnose Myopia?

Your LASERSIGHT doctor will be able to diagnose myopia by conducting a comprehensive eye examination, and eye test involving an eye chart.

Quick Tip: A general eye check-up is recommended once every two years for people over 45 years of age.

How do I Prevent the Onset of Myopia?

While there is no proven prevention to hold off the onset of myopia, you should organise regular eye check-ups to ensure that myopia is diagnosed early and treated accordingly.

Other preventative methods include:

• Taking regular breaks from looking at your computer screen or device
• Wearing sunglasses with ultraviolet (UV) radiation protection
• Managing chronic health conditions, such as diabetes

What are the Treatment Options for Myopia?

There are several different types of refractive laser eye surgeries that can help improve or correct myopia. Depending on your personal characteristics, the best eye treatment option may vary patient to patient.

1st Generation PRK

PRK was the first laser refractive procedure before the development of LASIK. It involves applying the laser beam directly to the surface of the cornea to correct different types of astigmatism. PRK can be associated with more discomfort and longer recovery than LASIK, however as it causes less thinning of the cornea, it can be recommended for some patients.

2nd Generation LASIK

With over 10 million successful procedures performed worldwide, LASIK is the safest and most popular vision correction procedure for refractive errors like myopia. The surgery involves creating a paper thin flap on the front surface of the cornea, before using a laser to permanently reshape the inner layer of the cornea.

2nd Generation Femto-LASIK

Femto-LASIK is similar to traditional LASIK, except it uses a high precision femtosecond laser to create the paper thin flap on the cornea, rather than a mechanical instrument. Boasting greater safety and accuracy with the ability to create thinner flaps, Femto-LASIK enables more people to be eligible for laser eye surgery and can be a better alternative to LASIK for some patients.

3rd Generation SMILE®

SMILE® is the 3rd generation of laser vision correction and the first minimally invasive, flapless procedure for the treatment of myopia. As there is no need to create a flap, this advanced technique will benefit patients with thin corneas, dry eyes, contact lens intolerance and those who were previously unsuitable for LASIK.

For patients who aren't suitable for laser eye surgery, other eye treatment options for myopia include Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) and Intraocular Lens (IOL).

However, no two eyes are the same and so a careful assessment by a qualified Eye Surgeon will help determine what's best for you.