Myopia
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness or shortsightedness, is a condition of the eyes in which nearby objects are clear and distant objects appear blurry. Almost a third of people in the United States experience some degree of nearsightedness.
Causes Of Myopia
Myopia may be caused by some of the following:
- Excess corneal curvature
- An oblong shape to the eye
- A family history
Symptoms Of Myopia
Symptoms include difficulty focusing on objects in the distance, such as a chalkboard or TV. Other signs of myopia include some of the following:
- Difficulty seeing objects in the distance
- Squinting
- Eye strain
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Excessive blinking
- Rubbing eyes
Diagnosis Of Myopia
After a thorough medical examination of the eyes, the doctor may conduct some of the following diagnostic tests:
- Visual acuity
- Refraction test
- Retinal exam
- Slit-lamp examination
- A test of eye pressure
- Phoropter instrumentation
Treatment Of Myopia
Eyeglasses and contact lenses are common methods of correcting nearsightedness. Eyewear may be used for certain activities, like watching television or driving, or for all activities. Surgical options for the correction of myopia include vision correction procedures such as refractive and laser surgery.
Hyperopia
Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, a condition of the eyes where the focus on distant objects is better than the focus on objects closer to the eye, so nearby objects appear blurry. The eye is designed to focus images directly on the surface of the retina; with hyperopia, light rays focus behind the surface of the retina, producing a blurry image.
Causes Of Hyperopia
Hyperopia may be caused by the following:
- The eyeball is too small
- The focusing power of the eyeball is too weak
- A family history
Symptoms Of Hyperopia
Symptoms of hyperopia may include:
- Eye strain
- Headaches when reading
- Vision that is blurry when looking at close objects
- Strabismus symptoms in children
- Pain in the eyes
Diagnosis Of Hyperopia
After a thorough medical examination of the eyes, the following diagnostic tests may be conducted:
- Slit-lamp examination
- Visual acuity exam
- Examination of the retina
- Refraction testing
- Glaucoma test
- Dilated eye examination
Treatment Of Hyperopia
Hyperopia can be treated in a variety of ways. The most common is Prescription reading glasses, or Prescription contact lenses.
Hyperopia can also be treated with invasive or non-invasive surgical procedures, including PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), and LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis).
