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Nearsighted

Nearsightedness, or myopia, occurs when close objects appear clear but distant vision is blurry. This condition affects activities requiring distance vision, such as watching television, reading subtitles, driving, and engaging in sports or other outdoor activities.

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Before Near Vision After Near Vision

Laser eye surgery, particularly LASIK, is a definitive treatment for stabilizing nearsightedness, effectively curing the condition by reshaping the cornea. Key aspects of LASIK include:

  • Preferred method for correcting myopia.
  • Utilizes a laser to precisely remove a thin layer of corneal tissue in just 5-10 seconds, flattening the cornea to improve vision.
  • The entire procedure is completed within about 15 minutes.
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How does the laser correct vision?

Laser vision correction, such as LASIK and PRK, reshapes the cornea to allow light to focus precisely on the retina, enhancing clarity. For myopia, the goal is to flatten the cornea, reducing its focusing power. This is accomplished using an excimer laser, which emits a cool ultraviolet beam capable of evaporating corneal tissue without causing thermal damage. The laser removes tissue at an incredibly fine scale of 0.2 microns per pulse, carefully ablated according to a specific pattern to correct the individual’s visual prescription. With the advanced technology of the WaveLight laser, most treatments are completed in just 4-10 seconds.

Normal vision without myopia

In an eye with normal vision, light travels through the cornea and the pupil, the natural opening in the iris, before passing through the lens positioned just behind it. In the absence of any refractive errors—conditions that typically require correction with glasses—the cornea and lens work together to precisely focus light rays on the retina. This light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye transforms incoming light into electrical signals, which are transmitted via the optic nerve to the brain. The brain then processes these signals, allowing you to perceive and understand the world around you clearly.

Normal Eye Vision: Light is precisely focused on the retina for clear, sharp vision.

The cause of near-sighted blur

Myopia, or nearsightedness, typically occurs when the eyeball elongates from front to back more than normal. This excessive growth prevents the front part of the eye, which includes the cornea and lens, from focusing light directly onto the retina. Instead, light is focused in front of the retina, causing the light rays to cross and produce a blurred image. This misalignment results in a clear vision of close objects but a blurry perception of objects at a distance.

Understanding Myopia Progression and Treatment Options

Myopia, or nearsightedness, typically begins in adolescence and can progressively worsen over the next 10-15 years. For those with higher levels of nearsightedness, the condition may manifest before age 10. Initially, children may not recognize that their vision is impaired, as they can often read books and perform close-up tasks without issue. However, difficulties in seeing distant objects, such as classroom boards, can become apparent. Without realizing that this is not normal, they might not report their vision problems, which can impact their academic performance until the issue is diagnosed and addressed.

Myopia generally stabilizes by the early 20s, at which point individuals no longer require regular increases in prescription strength. This stabilization marks the appropriate time to consider laser vision correction, such as LASIK. Most candidates opt for laser eye surgery between the ages of 25 and 30, although this can vary based on individual circumstances, including how early they needed glasses.

Advancements in Cataract Surgery with Laser Technology

At AEMG, we now offer Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery, a blade-free technique that enhances the precision and flexibility of traditional cataract removal. Utilizing the FDA-approved LenSx laser system—built on the same femtosecond technology as bladeless LASIK—this method provides surgeons with image-guided control, allowing for a highly customized approach to each procedure. The laser not only achieves exceedingly precise incisions but also effectively breaks up the cloudy lens for easier removal and offers improved correction of astigmatism.

By integrating these advanced technologies, we can ensure more controlled and accurate outcomes, enhancing both the effectiveness and safety of cataract surgery.

Myopia Visualized: In a myopic eye, the elongated shape causes light to focus in front of the retina, leading to blurred distance vision.

These explanations outline the progression of myopia and the technological advancements in treating related eye conditions, helping patients understand when and why treatment is advisable.

Normal Eye Vision: Light is precisely focused on the retina for clear, sharp vision.

Types of Myopia Treatments

For those looking to correct myopia, three main treatment options are available, with laser eye surgery being the most commonly selected:

  1. Laser Eye Surgery: This category includes:

    • LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis): The most widely performed type of refractive surgery in the world, following cataract surgery. It involves reshaping the cornea to correct how light is focused onto the retina.
    • PRK/LASEK (Photorefractive Keratectomy/Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis): Similar to LASIK, these procedures also reshape the cornea but differ slightly in approach and are suitable for patients with specific corneal conditions.

  2. Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE): Often used for patients with high myopia or presbyopia, this procedure involves replacing the eye's natural lens with an artificial one, similar to cataract surgery but performed primarily to correct refractive errors.

  3. Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL): This treatment involves the insertion of a biocompatible lens right behind the iris and in front of the natural lens. It’s an option for patients who are not candidates for corneal-based refractive surgery.

How does the laser correct vision?

Laser vision correction, such as LASIK and PRK, reshapes the cornea to ensure that light entering the eye is properly focused onto the retina for clear vision. To correct myopia, the curvature of the cornea must be reduced to decrease its focusing power. This adjustment is precisely executed using an excimer laser, a sophisticated cool-beam ultraviolet light device that selectively removes corneal tissue without causing thermal damage. Each pulse of the laser ablates a mere 0.2 microns of tissue, allowing for extremely precise modification. The laser emits these pulses in a carefully mapped pattern tailored to each individual's unique prescription, ensuring optimal outcomes. Utilizing advanced technology like the WaveLight laser, the correction process can be completed in just 4-10 seconds for most prescriptions.

The LASIK procedure for nearsightedness

The LASIK procedure for correcting myopia, or nearsightedness, is a popular and highly effective surgical method that also addresses hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. Here’s how it works at our clinic:

  1. Flap Creation: Initially, our surgeon uses the Ziemer femtosecond laser to create a very thin, precise circular flap in the cornea. This modern method replaces the older, less reliable microkeratome blade technique.

  2. Corneal Reshaping: After lifting the hinged flap, the surgeon exposes the underlying corneal tissue (stroma) and then uses the WaveLight excimer laser to reshape the cornea according to the specific needs of your nearsighted prescription.

  3. Flap Repositioning: Once the cornea is correctly reshaped, the flap is carefully repositioned over the treated area. It naturally adheres back into place, starting the healing process almost immediately. The edges of the flap typically seal within four hours after the procedure.

  4. Recovery: LASIK is performed under topical anesthetic drops, requiring no stitches or bandages. The procedure is virtually pain-free and quick, typically completed within 15 minutes for both eyes. Many patients experience significant improvements in vision almost immediately after surgery, with most achieving clear vision by the next day, enabling them to drive, work, and resume daily activities without any significant downtime.

This streamlined and minimally invasive approach makes LASIK an attractive option for those seeking to correct their vision swiftly and effectively.

The PRK procedure for myopia

PRK (an acronym for photo-refractive keratectomy) is a type of laser refractive surgery to correct nearsightedness. It can also be used for mild degrees of hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.

You will also see this treatment being referred to as LASEK and involves a minor difference in the handling of the surface skin layer. However, both procedures are identical in visual outcomes and pain. PRK is the most common of these two ‘surface ablation’ techniques.

PRK was the first type of laser eye surgery for vision correction and was first performed in 1988. It is the fore-runner to the most commonly performed procedure: LASIK.

PRK recovery takes a longer than recovery from LASIK eye surgery, between 3 and 5 days for most patients. During the first 2-3 days the eyes are often irritated and vision is not very clear.

PRK is still commonly performed and is used mainly when LASIK is not possible, for example a thin cornea or when the patient expresses a preference. Like LASIK excimer surgery, PRK works by reshaping the cornea allowing light entering the eye to be correctly focused on the retina for clear sight. With the WaveLight system, the excimer laser ablation is exactly the same for PRK and for LASIK.

For both PRK and LASIK, the excimer laser sculpts the stromal layer of the cornea to correct your prescription. The main difference between PRK and LASIK is that with LASIK a thin, hinged flap is created on the cornea to access the inner layers; in PRK no flap is created – just the surface skin layer is removed and the excimer laser energy is applied to the top layer of corneal collagen (the stroma).

The decision is clear.
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The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider.
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