Near-Sighted Vision

Myopia, more commonly known as nearsightedness, is a type of refractive error in which a person sees close objects clearly, but has difficulty seeing distant objects, which appear blurry. The good news is, that nearsightedness can be easily corrected with the help of glasses or contact lenses. There are also several surgical procedures that treat nearsightedness, including LASIK surgery.

Nearsightedness occurs either when the eye is too long, or the cornea is too curved, or both. As a result, visual images are focused in front of the retina rather than directly on it. Whether the condition is mild or extreme, nearsightedness is a risk factor for more serious conditions, such as retinal tears, retinal detachment, or macular disease in certain individuals.

Symptoms of Near-Sighted Vision

Nearsightedness often develops in childhood by the age of eight or nine and then stabilizes in one’s the late teens or early adulthood, making it hard to see objects that are far away. Plus, your vision tends to be worse in dim light, making it difficult to drive at night, as distant objects can appear blurry. It can also lead to eye strain.

Diagnosing Nearsightedness

Nearsightedness can be diagnosed with a general eye examination that includes visual acuity and refraction testing to determine your ability to see near and far images and the degree of the refractive error. Your eye exam may also include slit-lamp testing, in which your doctor uses a light and microscope to examine your inside eye structures.

Treatment for Nearsightedness

Following an eye exam, your doctor may prescribe glasses to easily correct your nearsightedness. In more extreme cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to reshape the cornea. In the past, radial keratotomy was the common surgical procedure, but it has since been replaced with LASIK laser procedure. LASIK surgery is quick, relatively painless, and provides a quick recovery time, making it an effective alternative to wearing glasses or contact lenses.