Nearsightedness Treatments

Myopia

Treatment may include:

• Eyeglasses
• Soft contact lenses
• Laser in situkeratomileusis (LASIK) —the use of a laser to permanently reshape the cornea by etching away cells beneath its surface (the most common surgical treatment for myopia)
• Laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK)—a procedure that is quite similar to LASIK, but differs in a technique of removal of the first layer of cornea. LASEK supposedly offers benefits over the typical LASIK procedure in terms of faster healing time and decreased post-surgical pain. Those benefits have been however questioned by recent studies. More research is needed to clarify the benefits of the LASEK procedure.
• Epi LASIK procedure (Epithelial laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis )—a hybrid procedure that combines elements of both LASEK and LASIK.
• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)—the use of a laser to permanently reshape the cornea by removing cells on its surface (less commonly done)
• Radial keratotomy (RK)—the use of microincisions to flatten the cornea (rarely done)
• Intraocular lenses—in some situations, removing your native lens and possibly replacing it with an intraocular lens can help treat myopia

Hyperopia

Most of the treatments for nearsightedness can be applied to hyperopia as well. Another common treatment is the use of reading glasses or bifocals, which are particularly useful for presbyopia. There are also collagen shrinkage (ie, conductive keratoplasty) techniques. For people undergoing cataract surgery (or refractive lens exchange surgery), intraocular lenses that correct for myopia or hyperopia and presbyopia are now available.