It’s estimated that by 2050, around 5 billion people worldwide will have myopia.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when the eye doesn’t refract light the right way. This results in a refractive error, which can make distant objects look blurry. While it’s not entirely clear what can cause myopia, researchers are looking into possible connections with increased screen time and reduced time spent outdoors.
If you’re nearsighted, you should know that there are treatment options. Learn about myopia correction in our guide, and decide if it’s right for you.
Options for Myopia Correction
If you have nearsightedness, your eye doctor should be able to diagnose it. Regular eye exams can detect myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, and other vision problems.
If short-sightedness is an issue that interferes with your daily life, there are several myopia treatment options to consider.
Corrective Lenses
There are two types of prescription lenses: glasses and contact lenses.
Eyeglasses can help “sharpen” your vision with prescription lenses. This is a safe and common way many people correct their vision, but it is a temporary solution. There are many styles of glasses and different types, including bifocals and multifocals.
Another temporary solution that many people turn to is contact lenses. Contacts go directly on your eye and are either soft or rigid. They are less obvious than glasses but may not be right for everyone.
Surgery Options
If you’re wondering how to correct myopia permanently, you’ll want to consider surgery. Refractive surgery reduces or eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses.
There are many types of eye surgery, including LASIK, PRK, LASEK, and more. Although these options are expensive, there are also plenty of financing solutions out there for people in need of surgery with bad credit.
LASIK
LASIK is one of the more common treatment options for myopia. During this procedure, a surgeon creates a thin flap in your cornea and uses a laser to alter the shape of your cornea. Recovery after LASIK usually does not take much time.
PRK
This surgery only removes the top layer of the cornea (the epithelium). Like LASIK, a laser reshapes the cornea depending on your eye measurements.
The thickness of your cornea plays a big part in whether you’re a good candidate for PRK.
LASEK
Much like PRK, a surgeon will use a laser to reshape the cornea’s outer layer. However, unlike PRK, the epithelium is replaced after the surgery. In PRK, the epithelium grows back naturally.
If You’re Not a Surgery Candidate
How can myopia be corrected if you’re not a good candidate for LASIK surgery or if your cornea is too thin?
Your eye doctor may recommend implanting small lenses that can replace your natural lens. This intraocular lens (IOL) can help your eyes focus. This procedure is called a refractive lens exchange (RLE) or clear lens extraction (CLE).
Patients that make good candidates for this type of surgery typically include those between 45 and 75 years old. Speak to your eye doctor to go over your options.
Start Seeing Clearly Again
If your short-sightedness affects your daily life, you should consider these myopia correction options. Schedule an appointment to meet with your eye doctor and discuss your surgery options if you feel that’s the right path for you.
Remember, there are financing options out there if you need them.
For more lifestyle tips like these or advice for living on a budget, check out our other posts today!