Navigating life without clear eyesight can be not only challenging but also frustrating, impacting daily activities such as driving, using tools, or even walking up a flight of stairs. Fortunately, many solutions exist for different types of vision problems. This article explores a range of methods designed to correct and enhance your vision, empowering you to see the world in all its vivid detail.

1. Glasses

It just takes a quick appointment with your optometrist to discover what is causing your vision problems. Once they have determined the correction required for your vision, they will be able to provide you with a prescription for glasses that will bring your world back into focus. 

Glasses are an excellent choice as they can usually be ready the same day, are an affordable option compared to contacts or surgery and also allow you to have fun with your style. Frames come in a number of designs with different lens options, including transitional lenses that adjust to the lighting and progressive lenses that allow you to accommodate far and near-sighted issues. 

2. Contacts

contact lenses

Contacts are another option, perfect for those who don’t like wearing glasses. These tiny, lightweight lenses sit directly on the surface of your eyes, providing a clear field of vision. They avoid the weight of eyeglasses and are perfect for people with all kinds of needs, including athletes or those who just prefer a more natural look. Contacts come in various types to cater to diverse requirements. Whether you’re nearsighted, farsighted, or dealing with astigmatism, there’s an option suitable for you. 

Before choosing contact lenses, it’s essential to consult with an eye care professional to determine the most suitable type and fit for your eyes. From daily disposables to extended-wear options, contacts present a versatile and effective means of correcting your vision while embracing the convenience of a lens-based solution.

3. Laser Surgery

Laser surgery offers a path to visual clarity beyond traditional aids. This advanced procedure uses laser technology to reshape the cornea, addressing refractive errors and potentially eliminating the need for glasses or contacts. It generally offers long-lasting results, leading to sustained enhancement of overall quality of life.

Before undergoing laser surgery, a comprehensive consultation with an eye care professional is crucial. This evaluation helps determine whether you’re a suitable candidate for the procedure, considering factors such as eye health, prescription stability, and overall medical history.

4. Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology (ortho-k) uses specially designed gas-permeable contact lenses to reshape the cornea. This non-surgical method offers temporary relief from refractive errors, providing freedom from glasses and contacts throughout the day. These lenses are worn overnight, and gently do their magic while you sleep. This results in reduced nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, allowing you to experience crisp vision during waking hours without needing external aids.

Orthokeratology is particularly beneficial for those with active lifestyles or professions where wearing glasses or contacts may be impractical. Since it’s a non-permanent solution, keep in mind that your cornea will gradually revert to its original shape if you decide to discontinue treatment. 

5. Refractive Surgery (Laser Surgery)

There are a few known surgical procedures to help reshape the cornea and improve your vision. These include:

  • LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis)
  • PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)
  • SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)

These procedures have long-lasting results and eliminate or reduce the need for glasses and contacts. However, they can be expensive and carry a few risks and side effects like dry eyes, glare, and light halos.

6. Implantable Lenses

Another surgical option is implantable lenses. Your optometrist or optometrist surgeon might suggest a few different procedures, including:

  • IOLs (phakic intraocular lenses)
  • RLE (refractive lens exchange). These are used for more severe cases.

Implantable lenses may be suitable for people who are otherwise not eligible for laser eye surgery, providing them with a different, long-lasting solution. In addition, these procedures can correct more severe vision problems. However, it is worth noting that implantable lenses can be expensive and, like any eye surgery, have associated risks and side effects. These should be discussed with your optometrist before agreeing to undergo either of these procedures.

7. Vision Therapy

Vision therapy, including customized exercises to improve eye coordination and ability to focus, can be an excellent option for conditions like lazy eye (also known as strabismus). These are non-invasive exercises, giving you a passive yet natural approach to vision correction. Overall, the exercises assigned in vision therapy are meant to improve the muscle control in your eyes. 

The key to success with vision therapy is commitment and devoted time to getting the best results, but it can be less effective for refractive errors like nearsightedness and farsightedness. It can also be challenging to get children to perform the exercises if they have shorter attention spans or are unwilling to commit to a routine.

8. Natural Remedies

Sometimes, changing your diet and adding supplements that are aimed at improving your eye health can play a role in enhancing and correcting your vision.

For diet and supplements, focusing on antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E can help to improve your vision and eye health. Consider also exercising your eyes like you would the rest of your muscles. These exercises can include palming and eye rolls to help relax your eyes and improve muscle tone. 

Natural remedies like the ones mentioned above are low or no-cost and have no significant side effects, making them a safe and easy way to help keep your eyes healthy. They can, however, only really help with minor concerns or overall eye health, as exercises and diet alone will not correct more major vision concerns.

Schedule Your Eye Exam Today

The first step to correcting your vision problems is to get a comprehensive eye exam. At Laurier Optical, our optometrists have years of experience and up-to-date training to ensure you can access the most cutting-edge solutions to help you see the world clearly. Reach out to us today to schedule your appointment!