Web Chat: Vision Problems And Laser Surgery

Have questions about vision correction and the myopia epidemic? Join us for a Web chat on Monday, Jan. 11, at noon E.T. We'll have Dr. Sanjay Patel, an ophthalmologist at the Mayo Clinic, and Dr. Donald Mutti, an optometrist at Ohio State University College, on hand with answers.

Nearsightedness is on the rise, and researchers like Patel and Mutti are on the hunt for the cause.

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We'll be on the lookout for you.

iStockphoto.com

We'll be on the lookout for you.

Genetic predisposition plays an important role in who develops myopia and who doesn't. But a recent study shows there's been a dramatic increase in myopia in recent years — more than 40 percent of people age 12 to 54 are nearsighted. Staring at computer screen, TVs and other sorts of close objects may be part of the problem.

If you're one of the millions of nearsighted people, maybe you've considered laser surgery to correct your vision. The vast majority of people are satisfied with the results. But after Lasik, about 5 percent of people report such problems as dry eye and double vision. The Food and Drug Administration is studying the problems.