Overcoming Myopia: How Life Gets Better without Nearsightedness

Is your vision clear when looking at objects nearby yet blurry when you try to focus on objects in the distance? Then you probably are one of the approximately 30-40% of Americans who experience myopia. Every day at Laser Eye Center, our devoted team of doctors treat patients with myopia, helping them to lead healthy lives with higher-quality vision. Here, our myopia specialists explain how your life can improve after overcoming nearsightedness. 

What Causes Myopia?

Myopia is a common refractive error that occurs when the curvature of the cornea is imperfect, or the eyeball extends too far. Typically, the light that travels through the cornea refracts (bends) so that it can communicate with the brain to enable sight. With a refractive error, the light bends improperly on its way to the retina and can cause blurry vision.  

In many cases, myopia appears to be genetic, meaning that you may have inherited your myopia from a parent. However, the extent to which your myopia progresses can be influenced by environmental factors. If you spend a lot of time staring at a computer or reading, these activities may also cause your distance vision to get worse. 

Ways Your Life Improves without Myopia

Without myopia, you will no longer have to squint to make out objects in the distance. You may even notice a decline in headaches once you stop having to strain your eyes.

You can also sit wherever you want in a room rather than having to find a seat toward the front of the movie theater or close to the whiteboard during meetings or in a classroom.

Driving becomes not only easier, but safer. When you can more reliably spot hazards and other vehicles in the distance, you have more time to respond.

How to Fix Your Myopia

The most common solution for tackling nearsightedness is with prescription lenses. Eyeglasses and contact lenses can help to correct your refractive errors for improved vision.

So long as you are over the age of 18, you may also consider LASIK and PRK to address your myopia. These are popular surgeries because they permanently reshape your cornea so that you can see without having to rely on eyewear as often.

If you have extreme myopia, an implantable contact lens (ICL) may be the better procedure. The surgeon inserts a phakic intraocular lens behind your iris that can permanently correct myopia. 

Trust Laser Eye Center

Laser Eye Center features the best optometrists and ophthalmologists that Southern California has to offer. We are heralded for our state-of-the-art technology platform, which is continuously being upgraded with each new technological advancement.  As pioneers in the market, we are proud to share that we have achieved a key milestone having exceeded thirty years of practice and having successfully concluded over half a million cases. If you wear glasses or are in need of new contact lenses, we invite you to please schedule an appointment at one of our six locations throughout Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire to quench your interest in learning more about LASIK, PRK or ICLs.