There are common eyesight deficiencies that can be corrected though laser vision correction. This is a procedure that uses lasers to permanently reshape the surface of the eye to improve vision.

Myopia (nearsightedness or short-sightedness) is a refractive eye defect wherein distant objects appear blurred while close objects can be seen clearly. In this condition, the cornea is too steeply curved or the eye is longer than normal. Because the physical length of the eye is longer than the optical length, light rays that enter the eye are not focused properly on the retina, making images appear blurred. Vision appears to be clearer when squinting. Other symptoms of myopia are headaches and eyestrain. Myopia is a leading cause of visual problems and affects men and women equally. It usually becomes progressively worse with age and people who have a family history of short-sightedness are more likely to develop it.

Myopia is classified into three degrees, measured in dioptres (D). These are mild-degree (0.5D to 3.0D), medium-degree (3.0D to 6.0D), and high-degree (6.0D and over). Around 5 million people in the UK have myopia and about 200,000 of them have high-degree myopia, making it a common condition.

To focus the light correctly onto the retina, corrective eye glasses or contact lenses help produce a clear image. For people with high degree of myopia, very powerful eye glass prescriptions or very thick glasses are needed in order to correct the vision.

Laser vision correction is a common surgical method to correct myopia. An excimer laser is used to flatten the cornea to shift the focus and direct it to the retina. This can reduce dependency on glasses or contact lenses or can even totally eliminate the need for wearing corrective lenses.

On the other hand, hyperopia (farsightedness, longsightedness, or hypermetropia) is characterised by difficulty focusing on near objects. This condition may be caused by an eyeball that is too short or a cornea that is too flat that the images focus behind the retina rather than directly on it.

Usually, people with farsightedness suffer from eye strain, fatigue, or headaches after doing close work. This is because there is a constant effort for the eyes to accommodate. Also, people with severe hyperopia have a higher risk factor of developing amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (cross eyes), or glaucoma.

As in myopia, the degrees of hyperopia are measured in diopters. These are mild hyperopia (+2.0D or less), moderate hyperopia (+2.0 to +4.0), and severe hyperopia (+4.0 or higher).

Farsightedness, like nearsightedness, can be easily corrected with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. These are used to focus light correctly on the retina. Laser vision correction is another option for people with farsightedness. Although this can be more difficult to treat surgically compared to nearsightedness, surgery can be done to change the shape of the cornea to correct the focus of light.

Astigmatism is another common albeit mild visual problem caused by imperfections in the curvature of the eye. As with myopia and hyperopia, it can cause blurred vision. In astigmatism, the cornea is abnormally curved rendering vision to be out of focus and making it difficult to see fine details. This is often present at birth and can occur with nearsightedness or farsightedness. It can also occur after certain surgical procedures in the eye, such as cataract surgery.

Mild astigmatism may not need to be corrected. Wearing corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses is the usual management. Laser surgery can also be done to change the shape of the corneal surface to improve vision.

Using laser light is an ideal way to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Around 98% of patients are now seeing 20/20 to 20/40 after having this type of vision correction. Lasers make it possible to perform delicate surgical procedures which would otherwise be impossible to do.

For people over 40, another problem is presbyopia, in which the lens of the eye loses its elasticity. It is a natural part of the ageing process resulting to a decreased ability of the eye to focus on near objects. Another condition commonly found among older people is the development of cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, which can vary from slight to complete opacity, obstructing the passage of light.

Advanced techniques using laser vision correction make it easier to fix various eye problems. This is a modern, safe, and efficient alternative to improve eyesight. Consult an eye surgeon for the surgical options such as cataract surgery that can allow clearer vision without using glasses or contact lenses.