Extreme Myopia & Farsightedness: Signs, Causes and Options
Valley Laser Eye Centre | Conditions
About Extreme Myopia & Farsightedness
What Is Extreme Myopia & Farsightedness?
People with extreme nearsightedness are diagnosed with over – 8.00 diopters of myopia, Those with extreme farsightedness have over + 2.75 diopters of hyperopia. In both cases, their vision is so impaired it is debilitating, and they need glasses or contacts just to function.
What Causes Extreme Myopia & Farsightedness?
In extreme nearsightedness, the cornea is excessively steep and/or the eye is extremely long so light rays are focused in front of the retina. The eye cannot focus properly, especially on objects in the distance. In extreme farsightedness, the eye is extremely short and/or the cornea is excessively flat. When light rays enter the eye they are focused behind the retina giving blurred vision. The blur is even worse when looking at near objects.
The Symptoms
What Are The Signs of Extreme Myopia & Farsightedness?
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Blurred vision at all distances
The Options
What are my options to correct my vision?
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ICL
It’s the procedure of choice for patients with myopia aged below 50.
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RLE
This is usually the best option for people aged 50 and up, especially if they want to correct near vision as well as distance.
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Did You Know?
With ICL we can treat extreme myopia & farsightedness as well as refractive lens exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions
Extreme myopia typically refers to a prescription stronger than –8.00 diopters. At this level, distant vision is significantly blurred without glasses or contact lenses, and thicker corrective lenses are often required.
Extreme farsightedness generally refers to prescriptions greater than +5.00 diopters. People with this condition often struggle with both near and distance vision and may experience eye strain when focusing on close objects.
Higher prescriptions occur when the shape or length of the eye differs significantly from average, resulting in larger refractive errors that may require specialized correction options.. Because the refractive error is larger, standard glasses or contact lenses may become thicker or less comfortable, and specialized vision correction options may be recommended.
Many people with very high prescriptions are good candidates for advanced vision correction procedures.
Options such as Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL) or Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) are often recommended because they can correct larger refractive errors than traditional laser procedures.
People with very high myopia may have a slightly increased risk of certain eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment or glaucoma. Routine eye exams help monitor eye health and detect issues early.
Extreme refractive errors are diagnosed during a comprehensive eye examination. Your doctor measures how light focuses in the eye and determines the strength of prescription needed to correct your vision.
Treatment options depend on age, eye anatomy, and vision goals.
Common options include:
- Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL)
- Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
- Glasses or contact lenses
A consultation helps determine the safest and most effective option for your vision.