A shortsighted eye is usually longer than a normal sighted eye. Incoming light rays are bundled such that the point of focus lies before the retina and distant objects therefore produce a blurry image on the retina.

The longer the eye, the more shortsighted it is and the blurrier the image produced. Correction of the optics of an eye results from reducing the power of the eye such that point of focus is shifted back onto the retina.

Glasses and contact lenses divert light rays before they reach the eye. In the case of shortsightedness, the correction value is indicated in minus diopters e.g. -5.75D. LASIK is also very successful in treating low and moderate amounts of shortsightedness (-1.00D to -7.00D).

About 97% of patients in this group can forgo the usage of spectacles and contact lenses after LASIK surgery. About 85% of patients with higher amounts of shortsightedness (-8.00D to -12.00D) can forgo the usage of glasses and contact lenses after LASIK.