Which of the following is not an acceptable treatment for physiologic myopia?

• A. Contacts that steepen the cornea
• B. Glasses that flatten the cornea
• C. Laser refractive surgery
• D. Contact lenses that flatten the cornea

Answer: (A)

Physiologic myopia is treated by reducing the eye’s overall refractive power so the image lands on the retina. The goal is to lessen how strongly the eye focuses light, or to reshape the cornea to produce less refractive power, rather than making it stronger. Steepening the cornea would increase the eye’s refractive power and push the focal point even farther in front of the retina, which would worsen vision—so it’s not an acceptable treatment. The other options work by decreasing refractive power or offsetting it: laser refractive surgery reshapes the cornea to flatten it and reduce power; contact lenses designed to reshape the cornea (orthokeratology) flatten the central cornea to lower its refractive strength; and glasses provide optical correction by diverging light so the focal point moves onto the retina. Thus, increasing corneal steepness is the one that should not be used.