Modern Use of ‘Myopia’ Not So Myopic

We hear the word every day, though rarely applied as originally defined except in clinical settings.

“Myopia,” rather, has become the root of an insult most often slung at politicians and sports officials. While not exactly a stretch from the intended medical definition of nearsightedness, modern use of myopia’s adjectival form, which is often accompanied by an expletive, is anything but myopic.

Myopia—the vision condition—occurs when the light entering your eye is focused in front of the retina rather than on it, resulting in close objects appearing with clarity but distant objects to be out of focus. The first known use of the word “myopia” was in 1752, according to Merriam-Webster, although the word itself stems from the Greek “myops,” which likewise means nearsighted.

It is uncertain who the first person to call a baseball umpire “myopic” was, but the word has evolved to also mean one who lacks foresight or is narrow-minded. Myopia is also the name of a private hunting club, whose members presumably only enjoy the joke on one level.

The word has a storied history as a character trait in literature, plays and movies, perhaps most famously in the ironically myopic Piggy in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Piggy, of course, is the one with clear vision.

If you suffer from myopia (the medical condition, not the personality affliction), LASIK surgery may help. To learn more about LASIK options or to locate an ophthalmologist near you, please contact The LASIK Directory.

FDA Warns LASIK Providers about Misleading Ads

On Sept. 23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a letter to eye care professionals who offer LASIK surgery warning them against deceptively marketing the procedure and the FDA-approved lasers involved.

The letter came in follow-up to warnings regarding complaints that some LASIK providers’ “advertising and promotion often failed to properly inform consumers of the indications, limitations, and risks of refractive procedures and the lasers used for those procedures.”

According to the Sept. 23 letter, “The FDA continues to receive information concerning improper promotion and advertising practices by eye care professionals.”

Vision practices that misrepresent the FDA-approved lasers used in LASIK and other laser-based vision correction procedures may be found in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and could face fines and the seizure of products.

Although LASIK is a statistically safe procedure with a success rate of more than 95 percent, it is still a surgical procedure, and as such it is advised that those considering LASIK do their research when choosing an ophthalmologist and specific procedure.

The FDA provides a list of lasers approved for LASIK surgery.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits and risks of LASIK and other laser eye surgery procedures, please contact an ophthalmologist near you.

The Differences between LASIK and PRK

Both LASIK and PRK are laser-based vision correction procedures that offer patients a high success rate and can be used to treat conditions including:

• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Astigmatism

Both procedures entail the use of an FDA-approved laser to reshape the surface of your cornea, and both are accompanied by similar results and risks. However, there are two key differences that separate LASIK and PRK: the first is in the surgical approach, and the second regards candidacy for the vision correction surgeries.

In LASIK, a flap is cut in your epithelium—the surface layer of your eye—in order to access your cornea. After the cornea is treated, the flap is replaced.

In PRK, which stands for photo-refractive keratectomy, the entire epithelium is removed in order to access and reshape your cornea. The epithelial tissue will grow back and heal, although it typically takes PRK patients slightly longer to recover and experience the full results of the surgery.

Choosing the best procedure for you can be determined during an exam with an ophthalmologist. PRK can be beneficial for some patients who are not candidates for LASIK, including those who have thin corneas or corneal irregularities.

If you would like to learn more about whether you may be a candidate for LASIK or PRK, please contact an ophthalmologist near you.

LASIK FAQ

There is a wealth of information available about LASIK, the popular and effective laser vision correction procedure. But there are also a number of questions that potential LASIK patients commonly ask when just beginning to consider the procedure.

What conditions can LASIK be used to treat?

LASIK can often prove effective in correcting:

• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Astigmatism

How do I know if LASIK is right for me?

An exam with an experienced ophthalmologist and LASIK provider will determine if the procedure is the best option for your specific condition and whether you meet other individual LASIK candidacy standards.

Is LASIK performed on both eyes during the same procedure?

To avoid a vision imbalance between treatments, most ophthalmologists advise performing LASIK on both eyes in a single session. This also limits overall recovery time and reduces the cost of multiple procedures.

Does LASIK surgery hurt?

Your ophthalmologist will administer numbing eye drops prior to your LASIK procedure, and most patients experience little or no discomfort during surgery. You may experience some temporary discomfort after the procedure, which can be controlled with over-the-counter pain medication and anti-inflammatory eye drops.

How long does it take to recover from LASIK?

Your vision should begin to clear within hours after your surgery, although it may take several days to stabilize. Likewise, any lingering irritation should dissipate within a day of the procedure. You will likely be able to return to work within a day or two after your LASIK surgery, but strenuous physical activities should be avoided until your eyes are completely healed and you are cleared by your doctor.

For the answers to more questions about the benefits and risks of LASIK, please contact an ophthalmologist near you.