Myopia, or nearsightedness, means distant objects look blurred while near ones are clear. It happens because the eyeball is slightly too long, or the cornea too curved, so light focuses in front of the retina. It usually starts in the school years and progresses until the late teens or early twenties.
Glasses, contact lenses and laser or lens surgery all correct the blur, and in children special lenses or drops can slow its progression. None of them shorten the eye. High myopia, roughly above minus 6 dioptres, therefore carries a lifelong higher risk of retinal detachment, myopic macular disease, glaucoma and early cataract, even after successful laser surgery.
Symptoms
- Blurred distance vision, such as road signs or the board at school
- Squinting or screwing up the eyes to see
- Headaches and eye strain
- Sitting close to screens or holding books near the face
- Worse vision when driving at night
- In children, a drop in school performance or lack of interest in distant activities
Causes and risk factors
Myopia results from a mix of inheritance and environment. Having one or two short-sighted parents raises the risk. Long hours of close work and, in particular, little time spent outdoors in childhood are consistently linked to onset and progression, which is why rates have climbed steeply worldwide. Myopia that appears or changes in adulthood can be caused by developing cataract, poorly controlled diabetes or, in a progressive irregular form, keratoconus.
How it is diagnosed
- Visual acuity and refraction: Determines the lens power needed. In children, drops that relax focusing give the accurate result.
- Corneal topography: Maps corneal shape and thickness, which is essential before laser surgery and for detecting keratoconus.
- Axial length measurement: Measures the length of the eye and is the most reliable way to track progression in children.
- Dilated retinal examination: Looks for thinning, holes or tears in the peripheral retina, especially in high myopia.
- OCT of the macula: Checks for myopic macular changes when vision is not fully correctable.
Treatment options
- Glasses and contact lenses: Simple, safe and adjustable. Contact lenses need good hygiene to avoid corneal infection.
- Myopia control in children: Low-dose atropine drops, specially designed spectacle lenses, dual-focus soft contact lenses and overnight orthokeratology each slow progression by a moderate amount. More outdoor time also helps.
- LASIK and SMILE: Laser reshaping of the cornea for stable myopia in adults with suitable corneal thickness. Dry eye and night glare are the usual temporary side effects.
- PRK or LASEK: Surface laser treatment, preferred for thinner corneas or contact sports, with a slower, more uncomfortable first week.
- Implantable collamer lens: A lens placed in front of the natural lens for high myopia or corneas unsuitable for laser. It is removable.
- Refractive lens exchange: Replacing the natural lens, mainly considered over about 50. In high myopia it carries a raised retinal detachment risk.
When it is urgent
Sudden flashes of light, a shower of new floaters, or a shadow or curtain moving across your vision may mean a retinal tear or detachment, which is more likely in myopic eyes. Get an eye examination locally within 24 hours rather than travelling.
Travelling to Türkiye for treatment
Refractive surgery is one of the more practical reasons to travel: assessment and treatment of both eyes usually fit into 3 to 5 days, with a check the day after. Your prescription should have been stable for at least a year, you should be over 18 to 21, and soft contact lenses must be left out for about a week before measurements (longer for rigid lenses). Myopia control in children needs checks every 6 months for years and is better run by a local optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Send your reports, scans and a short history and a Clinic-Y coordinator replies within 24 hours with suitable teams and written, all-inclusive proposals side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
الأسئلة المتكررة
Does laser surgery cure myopia?
It corrects the focusing error so you can see without glasses. The eye stays long, so retinal checks remain important.
Do glasses make eyes weaker?
No. Under-correcting children on purpose does not help and may speed progression.
Will I still need reading glasses later?
Yes. Presbyopia arrives in the mid forties whether or not you have had laser surgery.
Can myopia return after surgery?
A small regression occurs in some people, more often with high prescriptions. An enhancement is sometimes possible.