Duc Anh spent an average of 8-10 hours a day working in front of a computer screen, which gradually weakened his eyesight and caused frequent eye strain and dryness. He chose to have refractive surgery at the High-Tech Eye Center of Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

Doctor Tang Ngoc Anh, Deputy Head of the Ophthalmology Department, explained that Duc Anh's myopia was low and had remained stable for the past 6 months. Early surgery would allow for faster visual recovery and reduce the risk of his prescription worsening over time. Duc Anh's pre-operative screening results, including corneal topography, retinal tomography, fundus examination, posterior segment ultrasound, blood tests, and pre-anesthetic examination, met the requirements for refractive surgery. The doctor performed the surgery using the SMILE Pro method, which only required 10 seconds of laser application per eye.

Doctors perform refractive surgery on Duc Anh using SMILE Pro technology. Photo: Hospital provided

One day after surgery, he could see clearly without glasses. His vision reached 20/20 a week later, and his eyes no longer felt strained when working on the computer.

Doctor Ngoc Anh explained that the decision to perform refractive surgery isn't solely based on the degree of myopia. It also considers how refractive errors affect the patient's quality of life, their personal needs, and the overall health of their eyes. Some individuals with mild myopia, less than 2 diopters, may experience significant discomfort from eye strain if they frequently work with electronic screens, travel, play sports, or experience eye strain. Wearing glasses can be inconvenient and even affect work productivity or daily activities.

If myopia has been stable for 6-12 months and the cornea is suitable, early refractive surgery is not only safe but also promotes faster recovery and reduces the risk of future progression.

Duc Anh's vision improved within the first week of his post-operative check-up. Photo: Hospital provided

For young people who want to improve their vision for work, study, or sports, doctors recommend early surgery rather than waiting until their myopia becomes severe.

Nguyen Minh