Can laser eye surgery fix short sightedness?

If you can see up close but struggle with things in the distance, like road signs or TV screens, you may be short-sighted.

This is also called myopia. And it’s one of the most common reasons people choose laser eye surgery.

The good news? Laser eye surgery is very effective at correcting short sightedness.

In this blog, we’ll explain:

• What myopia is
• How laser surgery corrects it
• Who is suitable
• What results you can expect

What is short sightedness (myopia)?

Myopia means your eye focuses light in front of the retina.

This happens when:

• Your eye is longer than average
• The cornea is too curved

As a result, distant objects appear blurry.

How does laser eye surgery correct it?

Laser eye surgery gently reshapes your cornea to flatten it.

This moves the focal point back so light focuses on the retina — giving you clearer distance vision.

Procedures like LASIK, LASEK and TransPRK are all designed to achieve this. The best option depends on your prescription, corneal thickness and lifestyle.

How effective is it?

Laser surgery is highly effective for myopia — especially if your prescription is mild or moderate.

Most people achieve 20/20 vision or better. Many say they can drive, exercise and travel without worrying about glasses or contacts.

Who is suitable?

You may be suitable for laser eye surgery if:

• You're over 21
• Your prescription hasn’t changed in the last year
• You don’t have other eye problems (like keratoconus or glaucoma)
• You’re in good general health

We’ll do a detailed eye scan and vision check to confirm.

Can it fix very high prescriptions?

Yes — but the higher the prescription, the more we need to assess corneal thickness and healing potential.

If laser eye surgery isn’t suitable, we may recommend alternatives like implantable contact lenses.

How long do results last?

Laser correction is permanent, but your eyes can still change as you age.

For most people, clear distance vision lasts many years. Some may need reading glasses later in life (usually around age 45+).

Want to know if laser surgery can fix your short sightedness?
Take our suitability self-test today.