Shortsightedness or myopia is one of the most common refractive vision errors and there are different options available for treating it. Both glasses and contact lenses can be very effective in improving shortsighted vision, as long as you have the right prescription. To see properly, light rays from the object we are focusing on must pass through the eye and reach the retina at the back. The retina is responsible for sending this visual information down the optic nerve and on to the brain, where it is processed rapidly.

Myopia is characterised by a difficulty seeing things in the distance (objects may appear blurred, fuzzy or indistinct) but no trouble seeing things up close. It occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, leading to an inability to focus these light rays appropriately.

Correcting myopia with contact lenses

Contact lenses can be used to aid in improving myopic vision. Concave lenses are the type used for treating shortsightedness and they work by bending the light rays slightly outwards so that they can focus further back on the retina. Concave contact lenses prescriptions will have a  minus sign before the number. The further away from zero the number is, the more correction is needed. It's fairly common to have different levels of correction needed for each eye, so optometrist may often provide different prescriptions for your right and left eye.

Your optometrist can also advise you on the type of contact lenses that would be most suitable for you in regards to fit and lens material, as well as the proper way to handle, store and clean your contact lenses. There are many different types available, from soft contact lenses to rigid lenses that are gas-permeable (designed to let in more oxygen while on the eye). It's essential to see your optometrist first before purchasing any contact lenses so that they can give you an accurate prescription.