Common Questions About Eye Problems

Our eyes are incredibly complex organs that bless us with one of the most valuable gifts imaginable: our sight. But with so many vital components, it is inevitable that things sometimes go wrong. This may be in the form of refractive errors such as long-sightedness, short-sightedness and astigmatism, or of conditions such as glaucoma and keratoconus.

In this article, we’ll be answering some common questions about these eye problems (and providing links where you can find more information). So, let’s start learning!

Common Questions About Myopia (Short-Sightedness)

What is myopia?

Myopia – also commonly known as short-sightedness – is the most common refractive error. It is estimated to affect around a third of people worldwide and evidence suggests the prevalence of myopia is on the rise.

In myopic patients, the cornea is slightly longer and flatter than usual. This results in light being focused short of the retina (the photosensitive layer at the back of the eye). As a result, while people with myopia can usually see objects clearly up close, their vision becomes blurred when focusing at a distance.

There are a number of forms of myopia, but the most common are physiological myopia, pathological myopia and acquired myopia.

Physiological myopia is a simple physical mismatch between the length of the eyeball and the focusing power of the lens and cornea. It is by far the most common form of myopia. Physiological myopia normally develops in children between the ages of five and ten and continues to worsen until the eye stops growing.

Pathological myopia is far less common and, whilst it begins as physiological myopia, it does not stabilise with age. Instead, the eye continues to enlarge at an abnormal rate. This can cause irreversible damage and degeneration to the eye causing visual impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or other forms of vision correction.

Acquired myopia occurs after infancy – often because of uncontrolled diabetes or certain forms of cataracts.

For more information and to watch a video on this topic, click here.

How does Laser Eye Surgery help myopia?

Humans have been suffering from myopia throughout most (if not all) of history. The upside to this is the development of various solutions, the most common being glasses and contact lenses. However, perhaps the most significant solution to myopia has only been around for a few decades: Laser Eye Surgery. So, how does it work?

Laser Eye Surgery utilises laser technology to reshape the cornea. In the case of myopia, this means removing a pre-determined area of tissue to flatten the cornea, making it better able to focus light directly onto the retina as opposed to in front of it. This achieves the same outcomes as other corrective methods – only without the headache of wearing glasses and contacts!

To learn more about how Laser Eye Surgery corrects myopia, click here.

What are the alternatives to treating myopia?

As mentioned above, the most common way to correct myopia is with glasses and contact lenses. These options will usually be recommended in all but the most extreme forms of the error (prescriptions above -12.50 D). While Laser Eye Surgery is also a great option for correcting myopia, most clinics are only able to treat prescriptions up to -5.00D and -8.00 D. However, here at London Vision Clinic, we are able to treat prescriptions up to -10.0 D – and possibly beyond – thanks to our access to the most up-to-date Laser Eye Surgery technology and ability to carry our high-profile treatment.

In cases of extreme myopia – beyond -14.00 D – alternative treatments such as intraocular lenses may be recommended. Intraocular lenses can be applied in two ways. ICL surgery involves placing an artificial lens that has been specifically selected for your prescription in front of your natural lens. In Clear Lens Exchange (CLE), the intraocular lens replaces the eye’s natural lens. These are essentially “built-in” contact lenses.

To learn more about the alternatives for treating myopia, click here.

What Are London Vision Clinic’s Results With Myopic (Short-Sighted) Patients?

Based on an analysis of 1200 procedures and outcomes, 100% of our myopic patients with a prescription up to -12.00 D were able to achieve 20/40 distance vision – the visual acuity limit for driving in the UK. Furthermore, 96% of our patients were able to read line N.6. on the Jaeger eye chart – which is considered the equivalent of 20/20 vision for near sight.

To learn more about results for myopia at London Vision Clinic, click here.

Common Questions About Hyperopia (Long-Sightedness)

What is hyperopia?

Hyperopia – also known as long-sightedness or far-sightedness – is another common refractive error. It is essentially the opposite of myopia in that instead of being too steep, the cornea is shorter and flatter than it should be. This results in light being focused beyond the retina, causing blurred near vision. In contrast, hyperopic patients often have good distance vision.

Hyperopia is a fairly common refractive error, affecting around one in four people. The condition is often inherited and nearly all babies are born with hyperopia but this often resolves as they get older.

To learn more and to watch a video on this topic, click here.

How does Laser Eye Surgery help hyperopia?

Like myopia, hyperopia is most commonly corrected with the help of glasses and contact lenses. These solutions are often effective but can come with significant downsides. Thankfully, Laser Eye Surgery is now more accessible than ever before thanks to advancements in expertise and technology.

Laser Eye Surgery involves reshaping the cornea to better reflect light onto the retina at the back of the eye. This is achieved by using laser technology to remove a pre-determined area of corneal tissue, resulting a permanent changes to the eye. In many cases, this procedure completely removes the need for external visual aids, providing clear vision for years to come.

To learn more about hyperopia and how Laser Eye Surgery can help, click here.

What are the alternatives to treating hyperopia?

Unsurprisingly, glasses and contact lenses remain the most common solutions to hyperopia and other refractive errors. However, Laser Eye Surgery is increasingly becoming a more viable option for many people as suitability expands and treatment becomes more affordable. But what about in cases where Laser Eye Surgery isn’t an option?

This may be the case if you have an extremely high prescription, thin corneas, or dry eyes. Often ReLEx SMILE – an innovative new Laser Eye Surgery procedure – can address these issues; however, this is not always the case. Thankfully, there might still be alternative treatments available, including clear lens exchange and implantable collamer lens (ICL) surgery.

To learn more about these alternative treatments, click here.

What are London Vision Clinic’s Results With Hyperopic (Long-Sighted) Patients?

Based on an analysis of 575 procedures performed on hyperopic patients with a prescription up to +7.25 D, 100% of patients were able to read at least the N.12 line on the Jaeger eye chart – an eye test is used to measure near visual acuity. Furthermore, 100% of our patients also achieved 20/32 vision or better, with 93% achieving 20/ 20 vision!

For more information on our Laser Eye Surgery results for hyperopia, click here.

Common Questions About Astigmatism

What is astigmatism?

In a healthy eye, the cornea – the outer layer of the eye that covers the pupil, iris, and lens – is spherical. However, in astigmatic eyes, the cornea has an irregular shape. For example, while a healthy cornea can be likened to a football, an astigmatic cornea more closely resembles a rugby ball; this is known as corneal astigmatism.

In some cases, it may be the lens that has an irregular shape – this is called lenticular astigmatism. In lenticular astigmatism, minor irregularities in the curvature of the lens produce small degrees of astigmatism despite the cornea being normal.

This abnormal shape affects how light is reflected into the eye, creating two points of focus on the retina meaning the eye cannot process a single, sharp image. As a result, people with astigmatism can suffer various degrees of vision distortion depending on the severity of their prescription.

Astigmatism can co-occur with other refractive errors such as myopia and hyperopia.

For more information and to watch a video on this topic, click here.

How does Laser Eye Surgery help astigmatism?

Distorted vision associated with astigmatism can make it difficult to carry out everyday tasks, such as reading. Furthermore, the condition may also be associated with other symptoms associated with straining the eyes, including headaches, squinting, and fatigue. Laser Eye Surgery can usually help to address all of these issues.

By changing the shape of the cornea, Laser Eye Surgery can effectively create one point of focus on the retina, resolving distorted vision and other symptoms associated with astigmatism.

For more information on how Laser Eye Surgery could help, click here.

What Are The Alternatives To Treating Astigmatism?

To watch a video about the alternatives to treating astigmatism click here.

Treating astigmatism is slightly more complex than treating myopia or hyperopia because astigmatism requires correction in more than one plane. Think of myopia or hyperopia as an eye that is simply ‘out of tune’ – like a poorly focused telescope. In contrast, astigmatism is more akin to distorted glass – any correction must take account of every astigmatic distortion.

Optometrists have traditionally treated astigmatism with cylindrical lenses, in the form of either glasses or contact lenses. In the hands of a laser eye surgeon, it is possible to correct astigmatic vision using LASIK or PRK. However, if Laser Eye Surgery is not an option, ICL surgery may be considered.

For more information and a video on this topic, click here.

Common Questions About Presbyopia

What is presbyopia?

Presbyopia – also known as “old” or “ageing” eye – refers to deterioration associated with the natural ageing of the eyes. As we get older, the signs of ageing affect our eyes much like other parts of our bodies. The muscles responsible for focusing our vision begin to weaken, affecting our ability to focus on close-up objects.

As a result, presbyopia is often considered the deterioration of our ‘reading vision’, as performing close tasks becomes increasingly difficult. The signs of presbyopia typically become noticeable around middle age and worsen over time.

For more information and a video about presbyopia, click here.

How does Laser Eye Surgery help presbyopia?

For a long time, the only way to correct presbyopia was with reading glasses. However, ongoing innovations soon began to provide other options, including Laser Eye Surgery. PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision is a unique Laser Eye Surgery procedure that addresses vision impairment associated with presbyopia and removes the need for reading glasses for good.

PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision works by correcting one eye for mainly distance vision with a little near vision while the other eye is corrected mainly for near vision with a little distance vision. This is called the “blend zone”. This technique is generally well-tolerated in most patients, allowing the brain to create a clear picture at all distances.

For more information about PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision, click here.

What are the alternatives for improving reading vision?

While reading glasses remain the most common solution to presbyopia, many people find the inconvenience of switching between glasses and no glasses frustrating. Laser Eye Surgery is offering a solution to this, but it isn’t the only alternative.

In some cases, patients may opt for contact lenses, which can be bifocal (have two parts – one for distance and one for near vision), monofocal (one eye is corrected for near vision, one eye is corrected for distance vision), and multifocal (have three parts for different depths of vision: near, intermediate, and distance).

Monofocal correction can also be achieved with monovision surgery.

For more information and a video on this topic, click here.

What are the differences between PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision and Monovision?

Monovision is a practice that involves correcting each eye for a different distance. This works in much the same way as PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision, however, it is achieved with external contact lenses or with Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery. There are some key differences between PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision and monovision, the most important one being their tolerability.

In ICL surgery for presbyopia, each eye will be fitted with a different type of artificial lens. This can offer an effective solution to presbyopia; however, it is not tolerated in all patients. In fact, it is estimated that monovision is only tolerated by around 60% of people. In contrast, approximately 97% of people are suitable for PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision.

For more information and a video on this topic, click here.

Common Questions About Other Eye Problems

What is keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a genetic eye condition that affects the cornea causing severe astigmatism. This causes distorted vision as well as other symptoms, including an increased sensitivity to light, and eye redness or swelling that can get worse over time.

The cause of keratoconus is not fully understood, but it is often associated with eye allergies, excessive eye rubbing and connective tissue disorders (such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome). It is also believed to be genetic with around 1 in 10 people with keratoconus also having a parent with the condition.

As the condition progresses, the cornea becomes increasingly thinner and begins to bulge out into a cone-like shape, hence the name (keratoconus literally translates to “cornea cone”). In the early stages, keratoconus can be successfully managed with the help of glasses or contact lenses; however, as the condition worsens, these solutions become increasingly ineffective.

For more information about keratoconus and to watch a video on this topic, click here.

What are the treatment options for keratoconus?

While glasses and contact lenses can be helpful in the early stages of keratoconus, these eventually become ineffective. Thankfully, there are other treatment options available. This can include Intacs® prescription inserts – small plastic rings that stretch the cornea outwards, causing the cone in the central cornea to flatten.

A newer treatment known as cross-linking is now increasingly used. Cross-linking involves applying custom-made riboflavin eye drops to the cornea; these are then activated with UV light. It works by increasing bonds between collagen fibres in the eye, which act as anchors to help stabilise the cornea. This can prevent the cornea from bulging out more but cannot reverse the effects of keratoconus.

For more information on treatments for keratoconus, click here.

What is a cataract?

Cataracts are a common condition that develops as a natural part of the eye’s ageing process. As we get older, the proteins in the lenses of our eyes begin to break down and clump together. Over time, this clumping can cause the formation of a cataract – a cloudy obstruction in the lens. Eventually, cataracts can significantly affect your vision and, if left untreated, even lead to blindness.

Age-related cataracts are the most common; however, cataracts can also be:

  • Congenital Cataracts – form at birth or in early childhood;
  • Secondary Cataracts – often appear after steroid use or the onset of other health conditions such as diabetes;
  • Traumatic Cataracts – form after injury to the eye, directly following either the injury or years later.

For more information about cataracts, click here.

What are the options for treating cataracts?

It can take years for the effects of cataracts to become noticeable, and even then, many patients may tolerate slight vision impairment for a long time with the help of glasses. However, it will eventually become necessary to undergo treatment.

The only solution to cataracts is Cataract Surgery. This procedure involves removing the natural, cataract-affected lens from the eye and replacing it with an artificial one, known as an intraocular lens (IOL). This will restore the vision that has been lost due to the cataract.

When undergoing Cataract Surgery on the NHS, all patients are offered standard monofocal lenses. However, with private treatment, patients have access to the full range of commercial IOLs that can be used to correct long-sightedness, short-sightedness and even astigmatism, giving our patients clear vision while reducing (and even eliminating) the need for glasses.

For more information and guides on Cataract Surgery, click here.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve, which carries messages from the retina to the brain. Over time, damage to the optic nerve can cause significant vision impairment and, if left unmanaged, even blindness. Glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness in the UK, behind cataracts.

The exact cause of glaucoma is unknown, however, it is usually associated with a build-up of fluids inside the eye which leads to increased internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure or IOP). Symptoms associated with this increased pressure often develop slowly, making glaucoma hard to recognise in its early stages.

There are four main types of glaucoma, though some are much rarer than others:
  • Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) – the most common type of glaucoma. It occurs when fluid in the eye is not able to drain as well as it should. There are often no symptoms in the early stages of the condition though patients eventually notice a loss of peripheral vision.
  • Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma (PACG) – occurs when intraocular fluid cannot drain due to a variation in the angle of the eye’s anterior chamber. PACG can cause symptoms such as pain and redness in the eye; however, like POAG, symptoms often go unnoticed at first.
  • Congenital Glaucoma – also known as childhood or infantile glaucoma, is a form of the disease that develops in babies and young children. It is often inherited and usually diagnosed within the first year of life.
  • Secondary Glaucoma – called ‘secondary’ as it can occur due to a number of other primary conditions or factors, such as surgery, trauma or physical injury, inflammation, certain medications, and syndromes such as pseudo-exfoliation and pigment dispersion.

There is no cure for glaucoma, however, in some cases, medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss associated with the condition.

For more information and to watch a video about glaucoma, click here.

If you have any further questions relating to Laser Eye Surgery or our other treatments, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators – we’re always happy to help! Alternatively, Book a Consultation today to find out if you could be suitable for Laser Eye Surgery.