Myopia (Near-sightedness)

While looking at an object, light enters the eyes through a transparent outer curved layer called the cornea and passes through the flexible biconvex clear lens in the eye, to focus the rays of light on the photosensitive retina at the back of your eyes. In myopia, the curvature of the cornea is too strong or the eyeball is too short. The refractive elements of the eye are too strong. This causes the incoming light rays to focus in front the retina instead of directly on it.

Myopia (near-sightedness) caused blurred vision with glasses or contact lenses, mainly for the distance. It is also a major cause of retinal weakness. The retina is the light receptive layer at the back of the eye. Myopia can cause complications, such as the retina becoming thinner and weaker causing Lattice Degeneration (oval or linear patches of retinal thinning) or retinal holes/tears, which can progess to retinal detachment, Other less common complications can also occur, such as growth of new abnormal vessels, which can affect central vision.

How is myopia diagnosed?

Dr Chiu and her staff will conduct an eye examination to diagnose myopia and any complications of myopia. You may be prescribed corrective glasses or contact lenses, while certain cases may require treatment to treat complications of myopia. Surgery to correct myopia is possible and the treatment options include:

• LASIK (blade-less)
• PRK
• Implantable collamer lens
• Bioptics

What is the treatment?

Retinal tears can cause symptoms such as flashing lights inside the eye (photopsias), floaters (black or grey spots or cobwebs in the vision), or a shadow that covers the vision. During routine eye check-ups, if the retina is suspected to be weak, or retinal holes or tears are found, it may be treated with barrier Argon laser treatment to strengthen it so that serious eye problems such as retinal detachment can be avoided. This laser treatment is performed to seal retinal tears.

Barrier laser treatment is an out-patient procedure where an intense beam of laser light is focused onto the retina. The procedure involves dilating the pupil and instilling anaesthetic drops. A special contact lens is then placed on the eye to direct the laser beam. During the laser treatment, flashes of light are seen by the patient, but no pain will be felt.

Patients can continue to perform daily routine activities apart from driving on the day of treatment. You will need someone to take you home following the procedure.