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Nearsightedness, or Myopia, is a very common vision condition that affects about ⅓ of the US population. A thorough exam by Dr. Kraff at the Kraff Eye Institute at our Chicagoland location will disclose if you have this condition, how to treat your myopia, and if myopia surgery is right for you.
Nearsightedness is also commonly known as, Myopia. Myopia is a condition of the eye in which the light that enters the eye does not fall directly onto the retina, it falls in front of it. This abnormality causes images in the distance to be out of focus. As the images or objects being looked at move closer, the images become clearer. Eye nearsightedness is a common condition. Children and teens are typically affected by progressive myopia, meaning the correction required to clear the vision increases overtime periods. High myopia is a rare type of eye nearsightedness that is often inherited. Individuals with high myopia often have extreme prescriptions that require they rarely, if ever, go without glasses or contact lenses.
Symptoms of myopia, or nearsightedness can develop gradually or rapidly. Individuals with this mypopic eye condition often are diagnosed during childhood or adolescence. Nearsightedness tends to run in families. Symptoms of nearsightedness include:
Individuals who are nearsighted may experience all or some of these symptoms of myopia. Nearsightedness does not affect the health of the eyes, but can be annoying and uncomfortable if left untreated.
There are several ways in which an individual can choose to address or fix their nearsightedness. As you search for myopia treatment options, keep in mind that not all options are for everyone and what is appropriate for one person may not be for another. There is no cure for myopia but there are many appropriate options to treat it.
LASIK is a common treatment for myopia. The LASIK procedure works by reshaping the front surface of the eye with a laser, so that when light enters the eye, it falls directly onto the retina. LASIK eye surgery for nearsightedness is a safe and useful way to treat nearsightedness. During the LASIK procedure a small flap is created on the front surface of the cornea, the flap is lifted and the underlying corneal tissue is reshaped. Once complete, the flap is placed back into place.
PRK is another refractive eye surgery that can improve nearsightedness. Similar to LASIK, the PRK procedure also uses a laser to reshape the front surface of the eye, to allow light to fall directly onto the retina of the eye. The difference lies in how the doctor approaches the corneal tissue. During the LASIK procedure, the doctor will create a flap on the cornea to access the underlying corneal tissue, during PRK the doctor removes the surface cells of the cornea to access the underlying corneal tissue.
Refractive Lens Exchange is a vision correction procedure similar to cataract surgery in which the natural lens of the patient eye is replaced with an intraocular lens. Patients who have RLE do not have cataracts. RLE is often done in patients over the age of 40. RLE is a more invasive procedure and is usually performed in a surgical center.
An implantable contact lens or ICL is placed inside your eye to permanently correct your vision. An ICL can be placed either in front of or behind your iris, the colored part of your eye. ICL is primarily intended for people over the age of 18 and under the age of 50. ICL is also an invasive procedure, primarily performed in a surgical center.
Eyeglasses and contact lenses are an easy, non-surgical way to treat myopia or nearsightedness. Eye glasses have become increasingly affordable, and are often viewed as a fun fashion statement. Contact lenses will give you a more natural look, as they are worn directly on the eyes. Contacts do not obstruct vision and provide an entire field of focused viewing. This can be especially helpful for people who are active or participate in sports.
If you are looking to fix your myopia, schedule your no-cost, no-obligation consultation today. Or please call 312-444-1111, to begin planning your nearsightedness treatment.
Nearsightedness, or myopia is an eye disorder in which images in the distance are unclear and blurry. The cause of nearsightedness is directly related to the shape of the eye. In individuals with a myopia shaped eye, images that enter the eye through the cornea do not fall directly onto the retina, but in front of it. This abnormality causes the images to be out of focus. As the individual moves closer to the object, the image becomes sharper and more clear. Nearsightedness can develop rapidly or quite slowly, and is often hereditary.
To test for nearsightedness, you will need to have a comprehensive eye exam that includes a refraction along with a thorough eye exam. The nearsightedness test, or refraction is a measurement of how light bends into the eye. When the shape of the eye changes, it also changes the way light rays bend and focus. Through the introduction of a series of lenses, the doctor, along with the patient's input, can determine the degree of myopia that an individual has. Once the doctor is aware of the patient's level of nearsightedness, they will be able to recommend the most appropriate treatment for that patient.
All of the treatment options for nearsightedness come with a range of costs. As of 2022, your Health Savings Account (HSA) or your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can be used to help pay for refractive eye surgery. Many insurance policies will cover all or part of the cost of glasses or contacts. Medicare generally only covers the cost of yearly eye exams, and does not cover the cost of myopia treatments.
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When considering treatment for Nearsightedness or myopia, it is imperative to choose a doctor or practice with extensive experience. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Colman Kraff of the Kraff Eye Institute, had been at the forefront of laser eye surgery since its inception. Having participated in the 1991 FDA clinical trials, Dr. Kraff was instrumental in the FDA approval of laser eye surgery in the United States. Dr. Kraff uses the most up to date technology available to deliver the most safe and effective treatment options to his patients. If you are looking for an eye doctor in the Chicagoland area, look no further than Dr. Colman Kraff.
Individuals who are nearsighted may experience all or some of these symptoms of myopia. Nearsightedness does not affect the health of the eyes, but can be annoying and uncomfortable if left untreated.
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Is nearsightedness hereditary? The simple answer is yes. If one of your parents is nearsighted, your risk of developing myopia increases. The risk is even higher if both parents are nearsighted.
Does nearsightedness get worse with age? During times of rapid growth spurts such as pre-teen and teen years, myopia may get worse. By the age of 20, myopia progression typically levels off.
Blindness can occur if an individual is diagnosed with degenerative myopia, a rare but serious form of myopia that begins in early childhood. This rare form is severe because it damages the retina of the eye.
In most individuals, the eyes are completely developed by the age of 20. If you are diagnosed with nearsightedness, it is unlikely that the condition will improve.
