According to the American Optometric Association, nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population has myopia, a refractive error that causes faraway objects to appear blurry or distorted. If you have myopia, nearby objects may appear clear to you but objects at intermediate or far distances (e.g., a television screen, a whiteboard in a classroom) probably appear blurry.
Myopia occurs when your eyeball is too long or your cornea is too curved. This causes light entering your eye to focus in front of the retina, instead of directly on the retina.
There are several treatment options to help you reclaim clear distance vision. One of them is LASIK laser eye surgery, which permanently corrects the curvature of your cornea so it can properly refract light onto your retina.
Read on as Boston LASIK surgeon Ernest Kornmehl, M.D., explains how LASIK works and whether it is considered a permanent cure for myopia.
How LASIK Works
During a LASIK procedure, a thin, hinged flap is created in the surface of the cornea and folded back to reveal the underlying corneal tissue. An excimer laser is used to remove microscopic amounts of tissue and slightly flatten the curvature of the cornea. This allows the focal point to shift backward so it can reach the retina. At the end of the procedure, the corneal flap is restored to its original position and heals on its own.
Most of the time, the improvements made by LASIK are permanent. In a limited number of cases, vision may regress and distance vision may become blurry again. However, this is very rare and can be easily treated with an enhancement or “touch-up” procedure.
Is LASIK Right for You?
For many patients with myopia, LASIK is a life-changing procedure. However, it is not suitable for everyone. Whether LASIK is right for you depends on the severity of your myopia, your ocular health, age and other factors.
If you would like to determine your candidacy for LASIK, Dr. Ernest Kornmehl of Kornmehl Laser Eye Associates invites you to schedule a consultation at our practice. Please call or email us today to request an appointment.