Myopia is a defect of sight that shows distant objects badly.Those who are short -sighted badly far but well close. Myopia is measured in diopters (from -1 to -30) when it exceeds 7 diopters, we speak of high myopia. Myopia manifests itself when you are young and grows with increasing age, generally up to thirty years. Today there are several ways to treat myopia.

Myopia Treatment 

Glasses and contact lenses are the most common way to treat myopia. Specific glasses allow today to stop / slow down the growth of myopia (Hoya Miyosmart lenses and Zeiss Myoca).

Prolonged use of computers and cell phones has produced a marked increase in myopia especially in the very young. Reducing the use of PCs and cell phones and adding sports and outdoor activities reduces the growth of myopia.

How not to take care of myopia? We advise you not to contact the OrthoCheratology which is an old way to reduce Myopia by putting contact lenses during the night. The contact lenses of the orthocheratology crush the cornea during the night, the cornea thus during the day is flattened and can be seen well without glasses, the risk is that over time the cornea is ruined with a permanent lowering of the sight or develops a serious infection.

Interventions to Eliminate Myopia

The laser is today the most common intervention to correct myopia and has been used for over 25 years. The most common laser interventions are: PRK, Femolasik, Smile and Clear. They usually perform in cases of myopia between -1 and -7 also in cases of myopia associated with astigmatism. Astigmatism is another defect in sight that is often associated with myopia.

The Laser cannot be performed in cases of Myopia associated with Keratoconus or a thin cornea. The laser, in fact, works making the cornea thinner. When the cornea is already thin, the Laser avoids because it would make it too thin and fragile.

If the laser cannot be done, however, it is often possible to eliminate myopia with other interventions such as the system of fachyic lenses such as ICL.

High Myopia Interventions

In high myopia, the safest and most effective intervention is the system within the eye of the Phakic lenses. These are similar to contact lenses, however, which are inserted inside the eye with surgery and remain there forever.

There are different types of Phakic lenses: the most used in the world are ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens).

The ICLs are produced in America (USA) and until 2024 over 3 million have been implanted in the world. Our eye clinic has been carrying out this intervention for over ten years with extreme success.

The intervention with the ICL Phakic lenses has advantages compared to the laser intervention for Myopia:

1. Non -painful intervention unlike the laser
2. Immediate visual recovery. It can be seen well from the day following the operation.
3. UV protection. The lenses protect against ultraviolet rays. Improves long -term eye health;
4. No dry eye.The dry eye is always observed with the laser or contact lenses, never with this intervention.
5. Reversible intervention.You can always change the lens inserted in the eye if you change your mind or change the eye over the years.
6. Correction of multiple visual defects: in addition to Myopia, ICL lenses can also correct Astigmatism, Hyperopia and Keratoconus, cases in which very often the laser cannot be done.

Interventions Risks for Myopia

The most feared risk when you have myopia and above all high myopia is that of retina detachment.

The Myopian eye is longer than normal, the retina is stretched because the eye is longer. The stretched retina can be broken and then you have the detachment of the retina with a reduction of the vision. The greater the myopia, the more stretched the retina, the greater the risk of retina detachment.

The laser intervention does not increase the risk of retina detachment.

The intervention for high myopia with Phakic lenses does not increase the risk of retina detachment.

An eye with myopia and above all high myopia has a greater risk of retina detachment than a normal eye this risk is not modified by the laser intervention or by the system of lenses. So it is a good practice to make periodic control of the retina in case of high myopia both before and after a possible intervention.