1. Myopia, better know as short-sightedness is a vision impairment which allows close objects
to be seen clearly, but objects father away appear blurred. Short-sightedness occurs when
the eyeball has developed to be too long or the cornea has developed with too much
curvature. When these conditions exist with the eye it cannot function in the way it was
designed and the result is that light entering the eye isn’t focused correctly and distant
objects look blurred.
Nearly 30 percent of the population suffers from short-sightedness. While most research
points to myopia being hereditary, recent research is supporting the idea that it may also be
caused by visual stress of working too close up.
Short-sightedness usually first occurs in school-age children, because the eye continues to
grow during childhood, it typically progresses until about age 20. However, it may also occur
in adults due to visual stress or health conditions such as diabetes.
Optometrists measure the level of short-sightedness in each eye and give it a minus value in
whole numbers and splits of .25 so a typical short sight prescription would read -3.25.
Depending on the amount of short-sightedness, you may only need to wear glasses or
contact lenses for certain activities, like watching a film or driving a car. Or, if you are very
short-sighted, they may need to be worn all the time.
In adulthood, laser eye surgery is another possible treatment for short-sightedness. The
cornea, the transparent front window of the eye, contributes two thirds of the total
focusing power of the eye. Altering its shape changes the focusing power of the eye. Laser
Vision Correction flattens the cornea to correct short-sightedness or steepens the cornea for
far sightedness. This re-shaping process can also be used to correct astigmatism.
Thus, the excimer laser removes tissue in particular parts of the eye depending on what
type of prescription needs correction.
The amount of tissue that needs to be removed and from where on the cornea is
determined by a whole series of diagnostic tests that are undertaken during the
consultation procedure.
Therefore the key to achieving the best possible vision correction through laser eye surgery
is to find a clinic that has not only a wealth of experience in treating short-sightedness with
laser vision correction but also has the latest diagnostic and laser eye surgery equipment.
You also need to look at the experience of the surgeon who will be treating you. Meeting all
this criteria is difficult for any clinic but the one that stands out in the UK is Accuvision Laser
eye surgery clinic. It is at the forefront of laser vision correction and is able to treat many
people who are told by other clinics that they are untreatable. They are the only clinic in the
UK that can treat up to -14.00 short-sightedness.