MYOPIA, HYPEROPIA AND ASTIGMATISM
HYPEROPIA (FAR-SIGHTEDNESS)
What is hyperopia?
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, as it is medically termed, is a visual condition in which distant objects are easier to see than near objects.
Why does hyperopia occur?
If the length of your eyeball is too short or the cornea has too little curvature, near objects cannot be brought into a sharp and clearly focused image on the retina. Hyperopia may be hereditary or it may result from environmental factors.
How does hyperopia affect vision?
If you are farsighted, you involuntarily exert extra effort to maintain clear distance vision and even greater effort to see clearly at close range. This extra effort can cause fatigue, tension, discomfort and headaches. If the crystalline lens of the eye cannot bring the object into focus, blurred vision occurs.
How common is hyperopia?
Many people have some degree of hyperopia without knowing it. The condition may only become a problem if it significantly affects a person’s ability to see. However, symptoms can be avoided by seeing your Doctor of Optometry regularly to assess your refractive error and prescribe glasses to correct the problem. It is estimated that over half the people who wear glasses are wearing them because of a focusing problem due to hyperopia or presbyopia, a natural decrease in focusing ability that occurs with age. Hyperopia can easily be overlooked with a sight test or autorefraction.
What are the signs and symptoms of hyperopia?
Common signs and symptoms of hyperopia include difficulty in concentrating and maintaining a clear focus on near objects, blurred vision, eye strain, fatigue and/or headaches after close work, aching or burning eyes, poor reading ability and general tension.
How is hyperopia detected?
Farsightedness can be effectively diagnosed during a comprehensive optometric examination. Sight testing and common vision screenings, often done in schools, are generally ineffective in detecting people with hyperopia. This is because these individuals can identify the letters on an eye chart in the distance with little difficulty.
How is hyperopia treated?
In mild cases, your eyes may be able to compensate adequately without the need for corrective lenses in the distance, although glasses for reading and computer use may be indicated. In more severe cases, your Doctor of Optometry may recommend glasses or contact lenses for full-time wear. For appropriate candidates, laser surgery can be considered.
MYOPIA (NEAR SIGHTEDNESS)
What is myopia?
Nearsightedness, or myopia, as it is medically termed, is a visual condition in which near objects are seen clearly, but distant objects do not come into proper focus.
Why does myopia occur?
When your eyeball is too long or the cornea has too much curvature, light entering the eye is not focused properly on the retina – the sensory layer – inside the eye. Myopia may be hereditary or it may occur spontaneously.
How common is myopia?
Myopia is a very common visual condition that affects nearly thirty per cent of the Canadian population. It normally starts during childhood and continues to increase until the individual reaches the age of 20.
Will I have to wear glasses?
You may need glasses for distance only or full time as the prescription increases to enable you to see more clearly. If your condition warrants, your Doctor of Optometry will prescribe corrective lenses for you. You may only need them for certain activities, like watching television, going to a movie or driving a car.
Will glasses or contact lenses cure myopia?
Eyeglasses or contact lenses optically correct the problem by altering the way the image enters your eyes, but they do not cure myopia. At present there are no proven cures for nearsightedness. Surgical procedures such as LASIK, PRK or SBK, and/or lens implants may eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses.
How is myopia diagnosed?
People with myopia will often have trouble seeing the whiteboard, the movie screen, the television set or other distant objects. When your Doctor of Optometry gives you a comprehensive eye examination, he or she will include tests to determine if there is a prescription for myopia.
ASTIGMATISM
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a refractive error that occurs when the front surface of your eye (cornea) or the lens inside the eye is slightly irregular or cylindrical in shape, resulting in vision being blurred or distorted at all distances. Astigmatism is not a disease, but a common visual condition.
What causes astigmatism?
When the front surface of your eye (the cornea) or the lens inside the eye is more oval or cylindrical than round, light does not focus properly on the back inside surface of your eye (retina). Astigmatism is caused by small differences in the growth and alignment of the components of the eye. In some cases, it may be hereditary or it may result from such factors as pressure of the eyelids on the cornea.
How common is astigmatism?
Most people have some degree of astigmatism. It is rare to have a perfectly round optical surface. Small amounts of astigmatism may not require correction with glasses. However, moderate to highly astigmatic eyes will need corrective lenses.
What are signs/symptoms of astigmatism?
Even people with mild to moderate astigmatism will usually have blurred or distorted vision. They may experience headaches, eyestrain, fatigue, blurred vision or distortion at certain distances.
How is astigmatism diagnosed?
A comprehensive eye examination by your Doctor of Optometry will include tests to check for astigmatism.
Can astigmatism by corrected?
Almost all levels of astigmatism can be optically corrected with properly prescribed and fitted eyeglasses or contact lenses. Laser surgery may be an option for appropriate cases.
Does astigmatism get progressively worse?
Astigmatism may change with time. Regular optometric care can, however, help to insure that proper vision is maintained.
What is hyperopia?
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, as it is medically termed, is a visual condition in which distant objects are easier to see than near objects.
Why does hyperopia occur?
If the length of your eyeball is too short or the cornea has too little curvature, near objects cannot be brought into a sharp and clearly focused image on the retina. Hyperopia may be hereditary or it may result from environmental factors.
How does hyperopia affect vision?
If you are farsighted, you involuntarily exert extra effort to maintain clear distance vision and even greater effort to see clearly at close range. This extra effort can cause fatigue, tension, discomfort and headaches. If the crystalline lens of the eye cannot bring the object into focus, blurred vision occurs.
How common is hyperopia?
Many people have some degree of hyperopia without knowing it. The condition may only become a problem if it significantly affects a person’s ability to see. However, symptoms can be avoided by seeing your Doctor of Optometry regularly to assess your refractive error and prescribe glasses to correct the problem. It is estimated that over half the people who wear glasses are wearing them because of a focusing problem due to hyperopia or presbyopia, a natural decrease in focusing ability that occurs with age. Hyperopia can easily be overlooked with a sight test or autorefraction.
What are the signs and symptoms of hyperopia?
Common signs and symptoms of hyperopia include difficulty in concentrating and maintaining a clear focus on near objects, blurred vision, eye strain, fatigue and/or headaches after close work, aching or burning eyes, poor reading ability and general tension.
How is hyperopia detected?
Farsightedness can be effectively diagnosed during a comprehensive optometric examination. Sight testing and common vision screenings, often done in schools, are generally ineffective in detecting people with hyperopia. This is because these individuals can identify the letters on an eye chart in the distance with little difficulty.
How is hyperopia treated?
In mild cases, your eyes may be able to compensate adequately without the need for corrective lenses in the distance, although glasses for reading and computer use may be indicated. In more severe cases, your Doctor of Optometry may recommend glasses or contact lenses for full-time wear. For appropriate candidates, laser surgery can be considered.
MYOPIA (NEAR SIGHTEDNESS)
What is myopia?
Nearsightedness, or myopia, as it is medically termed, is a visual condition in which near objects are seen clearly, but distant objects do not come into proper focus.
Why does myopia occur?
When your eyeball is too long or the cornea has too much curvature, light entering the eye is not focused properly on the retina – the sensory layer – inside the eye. Myopia may be hereditary or it may occur spontaneously.
How common is myopia?
Myopia is a very common visual condition that affects nearly thirty per cent of the Canadian population. It normally starts during childhood and continues to increase until the individual reaches the age of 20.
Will I have to wear glasses?
You may need glasses for distance only or full time as the prescription increases to enable you to see more clearly. If your condition warrants, your Doctor of Optometry will prescribe corrective lenses for you. You may only need them for certain activities, like watching television, going to a movie or driving a car.
Will glasses or contact lenses cure myopia?
Eyeglasses or contact lenses optically correct the problem by altering the way the image enters your eyes, but they do not cure myopia. At present there are no proven cures for nearsightedness. Surgical procedures such as LASIK, PRK or SBK, and/or lens implants may eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses.
How is myopia diagnosed?
People with myopia will often have trouble seeing the whiteboard, the movie screen, the television set or other distant objects. When your Doctor of Optometry gives you a comprehensive eye examination, he or she will include tests to determine if there is a prescription for myopia.
ASTIGMATISM
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a refractive error that occurs when the front surface of your eye (cornea) or the lens inside the eye is slightly irregular or cylindrical in shape, resulting in vision being blurred or distorted at all distances. Astigmatism is not a disease, but a common visual condition.
What causes astigmatism?
When the front surface of your eye (the cornea) or the lens inside the eye is more oval or cylindrical than round, light does not focus properly on the back inside surface of your eye (retina). Astigmatism is caused by small differences in the growth and alignment of the components of the eye. In some cases, it may be hereditary or it may result from such factors as pressure of the eyelids on the cornea.
How common is astigmatism?
Most people have some degree of astigmatism. It is rare to have a perfectly round optical surface. Small amounts of astigmatism may not require correction with glasses. However, moderate to highly astigmatic eyes will need corrective lenses.
What are signs/symptoms of astigmatism?
Even people with mild to moderate astigmatism will usually have blurred or distorted vision. They may experience headaches, eyestrain, fatigue, blurred vision or distortion at certain distances.
How is astigmatism diagnosed?
A comprehensive eye examination by your Doctor of Optometry will include tests to check for astigmatism.
Can astigmatism by corrected?
Almost all levels of astigmatism can be optically corrected with properly prescribed and fitted eyeglasses or contact lenses. Laser surgery may be an option for appropriate cases.
Does astigmatism get progressively worse?
Astigmatism may change with time. Regular optometric care can, however, help to insure that proper vision is maintained.