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Cures for Shortsightedness

Shortsightedness, or myopia, is caused by a number of different factors, including a long eyeball or having an overly-curved cornea. According to the American Optometric Association, 30 percent of Americans suffer from shortsightedness, and there are plenty of methods for this to be remedied.

  1. Orthokeratology

    • Orthokeratology is a process in which a person suffering from shortsightedness wears a pair of contacts that reshape a person's eye or cornea. Some doctors use a type of contact lens called a GP contact lens. A GP lens is a firmer lens that, according to GP Contact Lenses, sometimes only has to be worn at night. According to the American Optometric Association, orthokeratology is usually used in mild cases of myopia and is most successful with patients under the age of 40. It's also not a permanent cure. While orthokeratology will help eliminate a myopia sufferer's need for glasses, after the procedure you will have to wear retainer lenses to help keep your eyes' new shape in place.

    Photorefractive Keratectomy

    • According to All About Vision, Photorefractive Keratectomy laser treatment was developed in the early 80's, but wasn't approved for practice in the United States until 1995. PRK is a procedure in which the doctor removes a small amount of tissue on the cornea to reshape the cornea and refocus how light hits the eye. There is a limit to how much tissue can safely be burned off of the eye, and this limits the effectiveness of PRK. During the surgery, the patient is left awake, but the doctor uses an anesthetic eye drop to deaden the sensitivity of the tissue on the eye. PRK is less commonly utilized now with the innovation and convenience of Lasik, but it is still the preferred method for patients with unusually thin corneas.

    Lasik

    • Like PRK, Lasik involves manipulating the cornea through the use of a laser. Unlike PRK however, Lasik is used to remove inner pieces of the cornea instead of removing pieces of the surface. The Lasik procedure consists of cutting a small piece of the cornea and peeling it back so that a laser can be used to shape the inner layers to correct the shape of the eye and cure the nearsightedness. Most doctors require Lasik patients to be at least 18 years old. After surgery you may experience some slight discomfort in your eye, but according to the United States Food and Drug Association, your vision should stabilize in three to six months.

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