Myopia is the most common refractive error in the world, and it is becoming more common with every generation. Current projections suggest that around half of the global population could be affected by myopia by 2050, making short-sightedness one of the defining vision challenges of modern life.
But what exactly is myopia?
Myopia, commonly known as short-sightedness, occurs when the eye is slightly too long or the cornea is curved more steeply than normal. This means light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina rather than directly on it.
The result is simple but frustrating: close-up objects may appear clear, while anything further away becomes blurred. Road signs, classroom boards, television screens, faces across the street and sports activity can all become harder to see without glasses or contact lenses.
Lucy’s Journey with Severe Short-Sightedness
In the video below, London Vision Clinic patient Lucy discusses the challenges she faced living with severe short-sightedness and her reaction to discovering she may finally be suitable for laser eye surgery.
What Myopia Feels Like in Everyday Life
For many patients, myopia is not just a prescription on a piece of paper. It affects the way they move through the world. Glasses can fog up in winter, slip during exercise, get lost at the worst possible moment or feel like a barrier between you and normal daily life.
Contact lenses may offer more freedom, but they come with their own routine. Cleaning, storing, replacing and wearing them safely can become tiring over time. Even with good hygiene, contact lens wear can increase the risk of eye infections, irritation and dryness.
Like many other refractive errors, including hyperopia (long-sightedness), astigmatism and presbyopia, myopia has traditionally been managed with glasses and contact lenses. These can work well, but they do not remove the dependency.
Distance Blur
Myopia makes distant objects appear blurred while near vision often remains clearer.
Daily Dependence
Glasses and contact lenses correct vision, but many patients become tired of relying on them every day.
Treatment Potential
Laser eye surgery was originally developed with short-sightedness in mind and remains a highly effective option for many suitable patients.
Correcting Myopia with Laser Eye Surgery
Thankfully, there is another option beyond glasses and contact lenses: laser eye surgery. In fact, laser vision correction was originally developed with myopia in mind.
The principle is beautifully precise. In a myopic eye, light focuses in front of the retina. Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea so light can focus more accurately onto the retina, improving distance vision and reducing dependence on external visual aids.
Why Myopia Is an Ideal Condition for Laser Eye Surgery
In the early days of refractive surgery, myopia was the main focus because it was, and still is, the most common refractive error. The aim was to reshape the cornea so the eye could focus light more effectively.
The first successful iteration of this treatment was completed in 1948 by ophthalmologist José Ignacio Barraquer Moner, who developed a technique known as keratomileusis.
Modern laser eye surgery has advanced enormously since then. Today, state-of-the-art laser technology can remove microscopic amounts of tissue from the cornea with exceptional precision. This subtly changes the eye’s focusing power and allows distant objects to come into clearer focus.
How Laser Eye Surgery Helps Short-Sightedness
In myopia, the eye focuses light in front of the retina. Laser eye surgery gently reshapes the cornea so light focuses more accurately on the retina, helping distant vision become clearer without relying on glasses or contact lenses.
For many suitable patients, this can mean waking up, looking across the room and seeing the world clearly without reaching for glasses first.
The result can be life-changing. Many patients who have laser eye surgery for myopia are able to ditch their glasses and contact lenses for everyday life and enjoy clearer distance vision with greater freedom.
As Lucy found out, treatment can bring the world back into sharp focus. Simple things like showering, travelling, exercising, swimming or playing with your children can become easier and more enjoyable when you are no longer working around glasses or contact lenses.
Laser Eye Surgery for Myopia at London Vision Clinic
At London Vision Clinic, we have built a world-renowned reputation for high-quality laser eye surgery. Our access to experienced surgeons, advanced diagnostics and cutting-edge laser technology often means we can treat patients who may have been told they were unsuitable elsewhere.
This is particularly important for patients with higher prescriptions. Many people with stronger myopia assume they will automatically be ruled out, but this is not always the case. With the right expertise and screening process, even very high prescriptions may still be treatable.
Our outcomes for short-sighted patients are consistently strong. For example, 97% of myopic patients with prescriptions up to -4.50 dioptres have achieved better than 20/20 vision, also known as 20/16 vision. You can explore more on our Results and Statistics page.
Could You Be Suitable for Myopia Treatment?
Your suitability depends on more than your prescription alone. We also assess corneal thickness, eye health, tear film quality, pupil size, lifestyle and long-term visual goals before recommending treatment.
This is why a detailed consultation is so important. It allows our clinical team to understand your eyes properly and recommend the safest, most appropriate option.
So, if you are considering laser eye surgery for myopia or another refractive error, our team would be happy to help. At our Harley Street clinic, we can treat over 97% of the patients we see, and you could be one of them.
Get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators to learn more about our treatment options today. Alternatively, Book a Consultation to find out if you could be suitable for laser eye surgery.
