Myopia (Short Sightedness) Treatment Sydney

About

What is Myopia (nearsightedness)?

According to recent studies, it is estimated that approximately 1.4 billion people around the world suffer from myopia. Myopia, also known as nearsightedness and short-sightedness is a vision condition that causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects can be seen clearly.

If you feel you are struggling to see distant objects please contact Vision Clinic Sydney for more information on myopia diagnosis and treatment options we have available to our patients.

Myopia is an issue with focusing power, which is often caused by the eye’s inability to focus light on the retina. Myopia (short-sightedness) is a common condition where distant objects appear blurry and near objects may be visible depending on the amount of myopia. The eye is like a camera and to get a clear image, light entering the eye must focus on the macula.

In a myopic eye, this light focuses in front of the macula. This causes blurring and the image to be unclear. If not corrected, this can cause headaches and increased eye strain and may impair the ability to perform daily activities such as driving.

If you are struggling with poor distance vision you may be suffering from myopia

Types of Myopia

Low myopia

Mild nearsightedness (generally less than 3 diopters of myopia) is referred to as called low myopia. Moderate nearsightedness or myopia is 3 to 6 diopters of myopia.

High myopia

Severe nearsightedness (more than 6 diopters of myopia) is also called high myopia.

A diopter is a unit of measurement used in optometry to measure the power of lenses. It is a unit of refractive power which is the degree to which a lens can bend light. The higher the number of diopters, the stronger the lens.

Myopia symptoms

Symptoms of myopia include:

Blurred vision when looking at distant objects
Difficulty focusing on distant objects
Headaches when focusing on distant objects
Squinting to see distant objects
The need to sit closer to the TV or other screens to see clearly
Having to hold books or other objects close to the face to read them clearly
Poor performance in activities that require clear distance vision such as sports or driving

What are the causes of myopia?

Myopia is a refractive error of the eye resulting from the shape of the eye causing light to focus prematurely before it reaches the retina rather than at the retina. This condition can progress at varying rates and it is often hereditary in nature. Although doctors do not know exactly why myopia occurs the suspected causes include:

Genetics: a person’s risk of developing myopia is increased if their parents or other family members have myopia
Prolonged near work: this includes activities such as reading, writing and using computers
Environment: spending more time indoors or too much time in bright sunlight may increase the risk of developing myopia
Poor diet: a lack of certain vitamins and minerals such as zinc may contribute to the development of myopia
Eye injuries or trauma: trauma to the eyes or surrounding tissues can lead to myopia

Myopia treatment

Eyeglasses and contact lenses

Spectacles and contact lenses are used to correct myopia by refracting light to focus images properly on the retina. Eyeglasses use curved lenses to refract light to the proper point of focus while contact lenses sit directly on the eye and work in a similar way.

Refractive surgery

Refractive surgery, also known as vision correction surgery, is a type of surgery used to correct common vision problems such as myopia (nearsightedness).

Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is a relatively new refractive procedure designed to treat a multitude of refractive errors such as myopia.

During the procedure, a laser is used to reshape the cornea which is the transparent front part of the eye to help the eye focus light properly on the retina. This helps the eye to focus more clearly, resulting in improved vision.

The conventional treatment for this is using spectacles. The correct lenses bend the light to move the point of focus back onto the macula. Spectacle correction is effective in many cases and provides a clear vision. Other options include contact lenses, laser vision correction or cataract surgery.

Concerned About Your Vision?
We can help.

How Can Vision Clinic Sydney Help With Myopia?

Vision Clinic Sydney ophthalmologists can help with myopia in a variety of ways. They can provide a comprehensive eye examination to determine the degree of myopia and the best course of treatment.

Depending on the severity of the condition, they may prescribe glasses, contact lenses or other vision correction options such as surgery

Meet Dr Kumar

Dr Nikhil Kumar a qualified ophthalmologist, graduated from the University of Newcastle in 1998 with a Degree in Medicine and went on to complete his ophthalmology specialty training at the Sydney Eye Hospital in 2008. His extensive knowledge in the field of ophthalmology includes cataract surgery, refractive surgery, corneal transplantation and laser vision correction. His interest in the eye and its complexities is what led him to choose Ophthalmology as his specialty.

Our location in Sydney

We are located in the central business district of Sydney in New South Wales. Our physical address is Level 6, Suite 605, 229 Macquarie St., Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.

Costs of short-sightedness treatment Sydney

The cost of short-sightedness treatment in Sydney can vary greatly depending on the type of treatment you choose. For glasses, costs can range from around $50 for a basic pair to over $400 for designer frames. Contact lenses can cost anywhere from $20 for a pair of daily disposables to over $200 for a year’s supply of daily disposables.

Laser eye surgery can range from around $2000 for a basic procedure to $3500 per eye for a more complex procedure such as LASIK or SMILE. Implantable collamer lenses are used for very high myopia and can cost between $5000 to $6000 per eye.

Please contact us directly or book a consultation to find out more about our prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you can find our most frequently asked questions about myopia treatment.

What is the best treatment for myopia?

Treatment for myopia includes corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses. Where patient candidacy has been confirmed, refractive surgery is an option.

This type of surgery reshapes the curvature of the cornea in order to reduce or eliminate the need for corrective lenses.

Can I reverse myopia without surgery?

Prescription lenses such as corrective glasses or contact lenses can help people with myopia by refracting the light to focus properly on the focal point of the retina. This helps turn blurry images into clear ones.

Can I correct my myopia naturally?

Myopia is not caused by a virus or infection so it cannot be treated with conventional medical treatments such as medicine, exercises, massage or herbal remedies.

Does laser eye surgery fix myopia?

Eye surgery can significantly improve unaided vision in people with myopia (nearsightedness). Options include ASLA, LASIK or SMILE. These procedures reshape the cornea using a laser to correct focusing errors.

Is myopia surgery painful?

Myopia surgery is not painful. Most myopia surgery procedures are performed under a local anesthetic, meaning you will not feel any pain during the procedure. After the procedure, you may experience some discomfort such as irritation and dryness, but this is usually temporary and easily managed with medications and eye drops.

How long does myopia surgery last?

Myopia surgery is a permanent procedure so the effects of the surgery should last a lifetime.

Can an Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) treat myopia?

If laser eye surgery is not possible due to patient parameters, Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL) are often an option. An implantable collamer lens (ICL) is a type of corrective lens surgically placed inside the eye to correct vision.

What is myopic progression?

Myopic progression is a condition in which nearsightedness (myopia) worsens over time.

This information is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment. It is aimed at presenting a perspective only and
is not a substitute for a prescription. Anyone experiencing a medical condition should consult their doctor.

How to book an appointment

For your first appointment, you must have a referral letter from your General Practitioner or Optometrist in order to be eligible for a Medicare rebate for the consultation and any tests/procedures you may have performed at the clinic. If you don’t have a referral letter, you can still be seen at the practice, but you won’t be able to claim a Medicare rebate.

You can download the referral PDF form or submit it online.

Please bring:

Any prescription glasses that you wear
Sunglasses or a hat as your eyes may be dilated during the consultation, resulting in possible sensitivity to light and blurred vision. You may not be able to read or drive for 4 hours after your appointment.
A list of current medications and details of your medical history
Your Medicare card, private health fund card and pension card if you have them.