Myopia or nearsightedness is the most common refractive error in the world, especially affecting Asian countries.
Look around you right now and no doubt you will see countless people with eyes staring into their handheld devices. The explosion of iPhones, iPads, and the like, may be part of the reason myopia is so common in young adults. In the 1970s only 25 per cent of Americans were nearsighted. Now that figure is over 40 per cent.
Truth be told, many of us can’t function without our phones. We become panicked if we forget them. Many scientists are studying why myopia has exploded in the last few decades.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia or nearsightedness affects the way a person sees objects in the distance. They can clearly see things up close or in their near vision. What they cannot see well are objects in the distance. Driving can be difficult, reading signs or enjoying scenery suffers.
This occurs because the cornea of the eye is too curved or too long. It causes light to reach in front of the retina instead of directly on the retina. Vision in the distance is blurred and fuzzy.
Some Reasons For Increased Myopia
Decades ago children and young people spent more time outside playing. Some researchers believe this allowed our eyes to adapt to both near and distant vision. With technological advancement, more of us are using computers and handheld devices daily. Even reading is done on a device. Holding reading materials too close can result in focusing fatigue, and the more time spent indoors may be contributing to the increase in myopia.
New Treatments For Myopia
Those patients with mild to moderate nearsightedness have multiple ways to correct their vision issues. Glasses, contact lenses, and LASIK surgery are just some of the ways to improve vision.
Those patients with moderate to severe myopia are more limited.
Now a breakthrough treatment known as ICL or Implantable Collamer Lens can improve the vision of these patients. Up until recently, many patient with myopia could not be treated with LASIK because their prescription was too high or their cornea was not thick enough for the treatment.
ICL is an implantable lens placed behind the iris to help treat progressive myopia. The benefits are extraordinary.
- There is no structural change to the shape of the cornea with an ICL.
- Positioned behind the iris it is invisible.
- The treatment is completed in a 15-minute outpatient procedure.
- It is a non-invasive and stable treatment.
- The results are predictable and the procedure is safe.
- There is immediate visual recovery.
If you have moderate to severe myopia and have been told you cannot be treated with a refractive procedure, visit the doctors at South Texas Eye Institute and discover if you are a candidate for this exceptional procedure.