Myopia: Signs, Causes and Options
Valley Laser Eye Centre | Conditions
About Myopia
What Is Myopia?
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness or shortsightedness, is when objects up close are in focus, but objects in the distance appear blurry. Most people with myopia wear glasses or contacts. Myopia is a very treatable eye condition.
What Causes Myopia?
Myopia occurs when the cornea is too steep or the eye is too long. When light rays from distant objects enter the uncorrected eye, they converge in front of the retina so the image is unfocused. Laser eye surgery moves the image back onto the retina and this gives crisp, clear vision.
The Symptoms
What Are The Signs of Myopia?
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Trouble seeing in the distance, reading road signs, alarm clock or TV watching
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Squinting, eye strain, headache
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Feeling fatigue when driving
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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PRK
A less expensive and proven surgery that maintain corneal integrity.
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LASIK
A good option when you want rapid recovery of vision
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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?
Myopia is the second most common refractive error after presbyopia. It's increasing worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Myopia occurs when the eye is longer than normal or the cornea is too steep, causing light to focus in front of the retina.
Because this is a structural issue, exercises cannot reverse it. However, vision correction procedures such as ICL, PRK, or Refractive Lens Exchange can permanently correct the refractive error and significantly reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contacts.
High myopia generally refers to a prescription of -6.00 diopters or greater.
People with high myopia typically rely more heavily on glasses or contacts and may have thicker lenses. Advanced vision correction procedures such as Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL) are often a good option for patients with moderate to high prescriptions.
Screen time itself does not directly cause myopia, but prolonged near work may contribute to its development or progression.
Taking regular visual breaks and spending time outdoors may help reduce strain. Myopia itself is primarily related to the shape and length of the eye.
Myopia often runs in families. If one or both parents are nearsighted, their children may have a higher chance of developing myopia.
Environmental factors such as prolonged near work and limited outdoor activity may also influence how myopia develops.
Most people with mild or moderate myopia maintain healthy vision. However, high myopia may increase the risk of certain eye conditions later in life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, myopic macular degeneration, and earlier cataract development.
Regular eye examinations help monitor eye health and detect potential issues early.
Myopia is diagnosed during a comprehensive eye exam.
Your doctor will test how clearly you see at different distances, measure your prescription, and evaluate the health and shape of your eyes. After your eye exam, your surgeon can determine whether options such as PRK, Implantable Contact Lens (ICL), or Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) may be appropriate for your prescription and eye health.
Many people with mild to high myopia may be candidates for vision correction procedures. Eligibility depends on several factors including age, prescription stability, corneal thickness, and overall eye health.
A comprehensive consultation allows your surgeon to determine whether options such as PRK, Implantable Contact Lens (ICL), or Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) are appropriate.