Does LASIK Treat Myopia?

Understanding LASIK’s Effect on Nearsightedness

You may not have heard the term myopia, but you’ve likely heard the term nearsightedness—particularly if it applies to you! As you might guess, people who are nearsighted can see things up close clearly but things far away are blurry.

Nearsightedness is caused by a misshapen cornea, meaning the eye is too long or too curved. When light enters the eye, it doesn’t focus correctly on the retina. As a result, the nerve signals sent to your eye are interpreted as blurry images.

Now, if you suffer from nearsightedness, don’t feel too bad about your misshapen corneas. You are not alone! According to a 2016 study from the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s journal, nearly 40% of the United States population at that time had myopia. As the article from Popular Science noted, the study also predicted that by 2050, more than 50% of the world’s population will be myopic.

Because our eyes don’t stop growing until we are around 18 years old, most young people are not officially diagnosed with myopia until their 20s, when their vision has stabilized.

To be clear, there is no cure for myopia. The most common treatment is prescription glasses or contacts, which help compensate for the irregular shape of the eye. However, the idea, as well as the expense, of wearing glasses or contact lenses every day for years can be overwhelming.

For many patients with myopia, LASIK surgery is the answer. LASIK does treat myopia. During LASIK surgery, a laser is used to reshape the cornea, correcting your vision. Again, this is not a cure, but it does treat the root cause of nearsightedness. Most patients who previously suffered from nearsightedness report clear vision following their LASIK surgery.

If you are nearsighted and interested in a LASIK procedure to treat your myopia, we’d love to speak with you. Please schedule a consultation or reach out to our team directly with any questions.  
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