Can Myopia Be Cured? An In-Depth Look at Your Vision's Future

Think back to a time when you or your child squinted at tiny text on your phone, or struggled to see a movie from the back of a cinema (1). Billions of people suffer from myopia, also known as nearsightedness, which can make normal activities that require seeing far distances difficult. Many people use corrective lenses to deal with myopia, but can you imagine a world where your glasses or contact lenses are a thing of the past? Is it a pipe dream, or can myopia truly be cured?
 

What is Myopia?

Myopia, a common eye condition, causes people difficulty when looking at objects in the distance while nearby objects appear clearly. Age, genetics, and environment can all contribute to myopia, which causes the eyeball to become slightly longer than usual from the front to back. This condition often requires corrective lenses, but what if you could say goodbye to your glasses or contact lenses for good?
 

Can Nearsightedness Be Cured?

One of the hot topics in ophthalmology asks, “Can myopia be cured?" While no definitive "cure" for myopia currently exists in the traditional sense, modern advancements in eye care have produced a range of effective treatments to manage and even reduce the impact of myopia over time (2).
 

At MSVC Vision, we provide a comprehensive array of services designed to manage and treat your myopia effectively.
 

Treatments for Myopia

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)

Ortho-K avoids the need for surgical procedures by utilizing specially designed contact lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea. This temporarily corrects myopia, allowing clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses. This treatment for myopia provides a wonderful option for children and teens since their eyes continue to grow into their early twenties. While they do not cure nearsightedness, they can significantly reduce its progression.
 

Atropine Eye Drops

Atropine eye drops have shown promise in slowing the progression of myopia in children. Originally, the drops were used to dilate eyes for examinations, but studies proved they could also help children struggling with nearsightedness. The drops used contain extremely low (0.01 - 0.05%) levels of atropine that produce minimal side effects. Simply administer a few drops at night before bedtime to see the results. Unfortunately, atropine eye drops do not present a permanent solution and don't cure myopia entirely.
 

Myopia Control

Our Myopia Management Program changes the game for individuals, especially children and teenagers, struggling with progressive myopia. This program combines various treatments to not only correct vision but also slow the rate of myopia progression (3). Dr. Reynolds specializes in myopia management to help you figure out the best way to keep your child’s eyes healthy.
 

Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses

Most people treat/correct myopia using corrective lenses, either glasses or contact lenses. These help refocus light directly onto your retina, making distant objects clear again. Correctly using these lenses can significantly slow myopia’s progression, but it’s also worth mentioning that people suffering from very low myopia should not use their glasses outside of the activities where they need them (outdoor sports, tv, etc.). This can actually accelerate the rate at which their eyes degenerate. Talk with your optometrist to better understand your eyes’ needs.
 

Surgical Options

While surgeries can correct certain eye conditions, candidates need to be over eighteen years old to receive them. Most doctors recommend waiting until a patient’s prescription stabilizes in their mid-20s to perform surgeries.
 

LASIK

LASIK surgery uses a laser to reshape the cornea, correcting the refraction of light entering the eye, which can permanently correct mild to moderate myopia.  After reshaping the cornea, the patient typically recovers in 1 to 2 days. Patients struggling with high myopia or astigmatisms have less-predictable results.
 

PRK

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is another laser eye surgery option for myopia that scrapes the exterior epithelial cells from the cornea. After the surgery, a surgeon will “bandage” the eye using a contact that gets left on for a few days. PRK often suits people who aren't ideal candidates for LASIK. This option typically takes a bit longer to recover from than LASIK, but works well for people who have had previous eye procedures or have naturally thin corneas.
 

Implantable Contact Lenses

These lenses work the same way that typical contacts do by reshaping the cornea to correct refractive errors in the eye. However, these get implanted directly in front of or behind the iris. It heals naturally without stitches and does not cause much discomfort. We provide eye drops to help mitigate any slight discomforts patients may experience.
 

Natural Treatments for Myopia

While the efficacy of natural treatments for myopia is still a topic of debate, some lifestyle changes may help slow the progression of myopia. These include the following tips:
 

• Take regular breaks from close-up work, such as reading, writing, or computer use. We suggest that for every twenty minutes, you give your eyes a twenty second break looking at something at least twenty feet away to help reduce the strain from near sighted activities.
   

• Spending more time outdoors. Doctors typically recommend one to two hours of natural sunlight a day so your eyes can relax and decompress.
   

• Ensuring you have adequate light when doing close-up work will help avoid any unnecessary strain on your eyes.
   

What is the Best Age for Myopia Surgery?

While surgery can be a highly effective treatment for myopia, it's not typically performed on younger patients as their eyes are still developing and their prescription may still be changing. The best age for myopia surgery is usually between 20 and 40 years old, when their eye prescription has remained stable for at least a year.
 

So What’s The Bottom Line About Myopia Treatment?

In the quest to answer if nearsightedness can be cured, we've discovered a spectrum of treatments that, while not cures in the strictest sense, can dramatically reduce the impact of myopia and improve your quality of life. At MSVC Vision, we remain committed to help you navigate this spectrum, from natural treatments to innovative procedures like our Myopia Management Program.
 

Remember, while myopia might currently not have a "cure", it is manageable and even correctable. More importantly, early detection and treatment can make all the difference, so don't put off that eye exam!
 

As your windows to the world, your eyes deserve to be brought into sharper focus. We don’t just want you to see better–we want you to live better! The future of your vision starts now. Don't wait until tomorrow for what you can achieve today. Begin your journey towards clearer vision with Mountain Shadows Vision Center.
 

In the end, the power to change your vision’s future remains in your hands. Make a decision today that your future self will thank you for. Contact us at MSVC Vision to schedule an appointment or learn more about our services.
 

A brighter and clearer future than ever before waits for you!

1. Mykidsvision.org: Myopia myths and treatments for short sightedness

2. Healthline.com: Can Nearsightedness Be Cured?

3. Allaboutvision.com: Is there a way to “fix” nearsightedness?