Exploring the Impact of Myopia and How Treatment Can Change Your Life

When your vision is compromised, it affects every facet of your life. Refractive errors make it difficult or impossible to see objects close up, far away, or both at the same time. Myopia is a refractive error that affects your long-range vision. This means that you may be able to read a book or walk around your home without issue, but are unable to read road signs while driving or locate a loved one in a crowded room.

Myopia can compromise your independence more so than farsightedness. Without prescription eyewear, you can’t drive safely or navigate the world effectively. In some cases, severe and progressive myopia can even lead to complete vision loss.

Prescription glasses and contact lenses offer temporary vision correction. However, many patients yearn for a permanent solution. Laser eye surgery is a safe and proven way to achieve perfect vision, forever.

Understanding Myopia

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a type of refractive error. In fact, it’s the most common refractive error affecting Canadians. According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, 30% of the population is myopic.

It’s believed that myopia is a result of both genetic and environmental factors. When children and teenagers spend more time indoors, on screens, and engaging in close-up tasks, their risk of developing nearsightedness increases significantly. If one or both parents are myopic, it’s more likely that the child will be impacted by the same refractive error.

When you have myopia, your eyeball is too long from front to back and more oval-shaped than a normal eye. Your eyeball has either grown longer than it should, or your cornea curves improperly. As a result, light does not focus correctly on the retina. Instead of focusing directly on the retina, the light focuses before it reaches the retina. This leads to blurry vision when trying to see objects at a distance.

When does myopia develop?

In most cases, myopia begins in childhood as the eye is growing. Although nearsightedness does run in families, you may be able to minimize the likelihood of your child becoming myopic by limiting their screen time and encouraging them to spend more time outside.

Is myopia permanent?

Myopia cannot be reversed. It can be treated through vision correction procedures, like LASIK or ReLEx SMILE, but it won’t go away on its own. However, you can take proactive steps to reduce eye strain to prevent your myopia from worsening. These include:

• Reducing screen time.
• Taking screen breaks.
• Following the 20-20-20 rule: look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
• Don’t read or work in dim light.
• Wear sunglasses outside.

What are the symptoms of myopia?

• Objects look blurry or fuzzy at a distance.
• Close items appear clear and sharp.
• Eye strain.
• Squinting.
• Headaches.
• Tiredness when driving or playing sports.

Different Types of Myopia

The extent to which nearsightedness affects your life will vary depending on the severity of the refractive error. For many people, myopia is a source of inconvenience and occasional, mild discomfort. Others experience significant, everyday challenges because of their vision, and are at a heightened risk for developing even more severe eye-related health issues.

Mild and Moderate Myopia

Mild myopia is diagnosed as up to -3.00 dioptres, whereas moderate myopia is considered to be between -3.00 and -6.00 dioptres. Both come with an overall low risk of other eye complications. Prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery can be used to effectively treat mild and moderate myopia.

High Myopia

High myopia is when you have been diagnosed with -6.00 dioptres and above. Typically, these individuals developed myopia earlier in life and have an increased risk of vision-threatening complications. This is partially because those with high myopia are more likely to develop pathological myopia (formerly called degenerative myopia). You also have an increased risk of retinal detachment, retinal tears, optic neuropathy, glaucoma, and cataracts.

Pathological (Degenerative) Myopia

Pathological myopia, also known as degenerative myopia, is a condition resulting from the progressive, abnormal elongation of the eyeball. The retina, choroid, and sclera in the back of the eyeball stretch as the eye lengthens. You experience severe nearsightedness, which can cause such extreme eye strain that it permanently damages the inner eye.

Those with myopic degeneration may develop a blind spot, have difficulty seeing some colours, need brighter lights to see well, and see floaters or flashes. Everyday tasks, such as driving, reading, or cooking, can become impossible due to your distorted vision. Without treatment, pathological myopia can lead to permanent vision loss.

Treatments for Myopia

Prescription Eyeglasses or Contacts

Prescription glasses and contact lenses are the most common ways of managing nearsightedness. However, these are only temporary fixes. Without your glasses or contacts, your vision remains the same. You face the same challenges and inconveniences.

Moreover, the compound costs of wearing glasses and/or contacts add up. Many patients don’t realize just how much money they’ll spend on prescription eyewear over the course of a decade.

Custom Bladeless LASIK

There are several vision correction surgeries that can permanently correct refractive errors, such as myopia. LASIK is the most well-known. At Clearview Vision Institute, we offer the latest version of this revolutionary treatment: Custom Bladeless LASIK.

Custom Bladeless LASIK uses a femtosecond laser to create a tiny corneal flap and reshape the eye. You will enjoy 20/20 vision after the procedure. This treatment is permanent; only in very rare instances does myopia return.

Custom PRK

Custom PRK at Clearview Vision Institute is particularly well-suited to those with myopia. During this procedure, an eye surgery removes or lifts the corneal epithelium rather than the corneal flap. The cornea is then reshaped with a laser. Most patients have 20/20 vision or better a year after the procedure.

ReLEx SMILE

Lastly, ReLEx SMILE is a bladeless and flapless vision correction procedure that treats nearsightedness. A femtosecond laser creates a small incision from which lens tissue is removed to reshape the cornea. As a result, light refracts correctly within the eye and focuses directly on the retina.

Vision Correction Procedures for Myopia From Clearview Vision Institute

Clearview Vision Institute has introduced numerous groundbreaking vision correction procedures to Canada and helped thousands of patients achieve 20/20 eyesight along the way. We were the first clinic to offer ReLEx SMILE to our patients, one of the best laser eye surgeries for treating myopia. Our surgeons are also highly experienced providers of Custom Bladeless LASIK and Custom PRK, which permanently correct nearsightedness.

Every procedure is personalized to your needs, goals, and medical history. Our custom vision correction plans, transparent communication, and expertise has solidified our reputation as one of Canada’s leading vision corrective institutions.

To request more information on treating myopia, call Clearview Vision Institute today at 647-493-6371 or contact us here.