Can You Improve Near-Sightedness & Can It Be Reversed?

Near-sightedness or myopia is a condition of the eye in which the affected person can see nearby objects clearly, but objects at a distance appear blurred to him. It is a very common eye condition. It is caused due to a refraction error.

There is no cure established till now for near-sightedness. However, there are methods that can slow down the progression of the condition. The most common methods that can be used to control the progression of near-sightedness may include-⁽¹⁾

• Multifocal eyeglasses and contact lenses
• Atropine eye drops
• Orthokeratology

• Multifocal eyeglasses is a simple and safe method of correcting the vision
• There is a wide variety of eyeglasses that can be used for correcting near-sightedness
• Multifocal contact lenses are worn directly on the eye
• These are available in a wide variety of materials and designs
• These may include soft, rigid, gas permeable lenses, spherical, multifocal lenses etc.

There may be some pros and cons when it comes to using contact lenses. It is best to talk to your doctor about those, before using any contact lenses⁽²⁾

• Atropine is used topically to dilate the pupils
• It is generally used while conducting an eye examination
• It is also used before and after eye surgery
• It has shown some role in improving near-sightedness, though researchers are not sure about the mechanism of its action⁽²⁾
• Also, it may affect the near vision, which is an unwanted side effect⁽¹⁾

• This procedure uses rigid, gas permeable contact lenses to even out the curvature of your eye
• They are to be worn to maintain the new shape
• However, once they are withdrawn, the eyes return to their earlier shape⁽²⁾

Other treatment methods that are used to correct near-sightedness are-

This type of surgery decreases your necessity to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. Laser beam is used to correct the shape of the cornea, which may result in a decreased degree of near-sightedness. However, there still might be a need for wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses. This surgery is carried out in many ways. These may be described as follows-⁽³⁾

LASIK-

Also known as laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, in this method the inner layers of cornea are removed to flatten the dome shape of the cornea⁽³⁾

LASEK-

Also known as laser assisted subepithelial keratectomy, in this method a thin flap is created in the outer layer of the cornea. The shape of the cornea is then corrected with the help of a laser beam⁽³⁾

PRK-

Photorefractive keratectomy or PRK is a procedure that is similar to LASEK. However, in this procedure the epithelium is completely removed and the cornea is then reshaped. The removed epithelium is not replaced. It is left to grow on its own which inevitably grows according to the new shape of the cornea⁽³⁾

At present, there are no treatments or methods that can reverse near-sightedness permanently. However, there are methods like orthokeratology that can temporarily wipe out your need for eyeglasses or contact lenses during the day-time. There are also some methods that can help in slowing down the progression of the condition.

Near-sightedness may stabilise when you are somewhere in your twenties. At this point, surgeries like LASIK and LASEK can be considered for correcting myopia. One may argue that these surgeries can reverse myopia. Yes, they do, but they also need to permanently remove tissue from the front surface of your eye, or they alter the power of your eye in some other way. They do come at a price.

Near-sightedness has no cure at present. However, it can be corrected using several methods. The condition can be managed, but it cannot be reversed.

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Also Read:

• Myopia or Nearsightedness: Causes, Signs, Treatment, Lifestyle Changes
• Children Who Spend More Time Outdoor Have Reduced Risk of Nearsightedness