Is nearsightedness surgery safe?

Written by Hu Shu Fang
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Myopia surgery is relatively safe, but it is essential to understand the specific indications and contraindications before undergoing such a procedure. Firstly, myopia surgery involves operations on the cornea, including the creation of a concave lens on the surface, and intraocular procedures, such as the implantation of artificial lenses for those with lens-related issues. If there are other underlying retinal problems, these conditions are absolute contraindications. For surgeries on the cornea, it is crucial to measure the corneal thickness and rule out conditions like keratoconus. Once the contraindications and indications are properly assessed, these surgeries are very safe to perform.

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Written by Zhou Qing
Ophthalmology
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How to treat high myopia?

High myopia refers to a degree of nearsightedness above 1000 degrees. High myopia brings great troubles to people, even affecting their diet and preventing them from participating in high-intensity physical exercise. It may also lead to complications such as retinal detachment, cataracts, macular hemorrhage, macular degeneration, vitreous liquefaction degeneration, and glaucoma. The treatment of high myopia has always been a major challenge in ophthalmology. With the advent of refractive lens exchange surgery, after extensive clinical practice, it has now become a better option for correcting vision in patients with extremely high myopia. The refractive state of the eyeball is mainly determined by the refractive power of the eyeball and the length of the eye axis. In cases of nearsightedness, the lengthening of the eye axis causes the light to focus in front of the retina, making it difficult for patients to see distant objects clearly. During refractive lens exchange surgery, a concave lens specifically tailored to the patient is implanted into the eyeball to change the focal point of the light so that it accurately focuses on the retina, achieving the purpose of correcting nearsightedness. Refractive lens exchange surgery maintains the integrity and accommodative function of the eye's physiological structure, has a larger optical zone, eliminates aberrations, and has a wider range of adaptability compared to corneal refractive surgery. Post-surgery, patients experience less discomfort, faster vision recovery, stable refraction, and no regression phenomenon.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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Will nearsightedness be inherited?

Myopia has a certain hereditary aspect, but it is mainly caused by improper use of the eyes. Myopia is characterized by clear near vision and blurred distant vision, primarily due to changes in the eye's axial length. After the onset of myopia, it is crucial to properly dilate the pupils and conduct an optometric examination to rule out false myopia and amblyopia. Currently, the main treatments for myopia are still corrective glasses or orthokeratology lenses. Surgical treatment can also be considered for individuals aged 20 to 45. Once myopia develops, proper eye usage should be practiced, reducing close-range activities to avoid eye strain, and regular follow-ups are advised.

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Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
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What should we do if a child has severe myopia of 800 degrees?

Myopia can be divided into pseudomyopia and true myopia, with true myopia further categorized into low, moderate, and high degrees. Clinically, myopia exceeding 600 degrees is usually referred to as high myopia. High myopia not only causes blurred vision in children but can also lead to various eye diseases, such as retinal detachment. Thus, it is very serious. Moreover, once children develop high myopia, their vision might continue to deteriorate even into adulthood. Therefore, parents must pay significant attention. During childhood, methods such as wearing glasses can be used to control the progression of myopia. If the child has reached adulthood and their eyesight has not continued to worsen over two years, considering treatment options like surgery might be possible, though currently, it is incurable.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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Does nearsightedness surgery require an incision?

There are two types of myopia surgery. One is performed using lasers, and the other involves making a small incision on the edge of the cornea to implant an artificial lens into the eye. Corneal laser surgery uses a laser to create a concave mirror on the cornea to resolve the symptoms of blurry vision when looking at distant objects. The ICL surgery, which involves the implantation of an artificial lens, significantly improves the patient's vision after the procedure. Both types of myopia surgeries are currently quite advanced in terms of technology. Therefore, patients who wish to stop wearing glasses and have clear indications from pre-operative examinations can consider undergoing myopia surgery treatment.

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Written by Hu Shu Fang
Ophthalmology
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How can children with myopia recover their eyesight?

Children with myopia should go to a formal optometric center for eye examinations and to get properly prescribed glasses. After wearing glasses, it is important in daily life to not read or write in dim environments and to maintain a correct posture while reading or writing. Abide by the "rule of three": the distance between the eyes and the book should be about one foot; the distance between the body and the desk should be about one fist; and the distance from the tip of the pen to the holding point should be about one inch. This can help prevent the deepening of myopia in children. Additionally, after using the eyes for forty minutes, it is recommended to gaze into the distance or perform eye exercises to relieve eye fatigue. Children should engage in outdoor activities for more than two hours per day, and more than fourteen hours per week, and they should have regular check-ups, generally every six months, to ensure the prescription of the glasses matches the degree of myopia. Currently, there are also options like orthokeratology lenses that can be worn at night to effectively control the progression of myopia.