Here are a Number of Refractive Eye Illness Conditions We Commonly See at Eye C U…

There are many types of refractive eye illnesses, and different people need glasses for different tasks. Some people require them to read a paper or concentrate on a computer screen. Others require glasses for driving or watching television and some people require glasses for everything they want to see and do, both for long distance and at near.

Eye Illness 1: Hyperopia

Hyperopia, or long-sightedness, is an eye illness condition where distant objects are clear and most often near objects are clear as well, but it requires an excessive amount of eyestrain to make them clear.  In a relaxed hyperopic eye, the image is focused behind the retina, the back of the eye. To focus the image on the retina, either excessive amounts of focus must be exerted by the individual, or a plus spectacle lens is required to be placed in front of the eye (to reduce this strain). This will allow the spectacle wearer to see all distances clearly. Hyperopia is a common contributor to behaviour and learning difficulties and if treated correctly can result in massive improvement at school.

Eye Illness 2: Myopia

Myopia, or short-sightedness, is an eye illness condition where faraway objects are blurry, but near objects are clear. In a myopic eye, the image is focused in front of the retina. To focus the image on to the retina, a minus spectacle lens must be placed in front of the eye. This will allow the spectacle wearer to see distance clearly. Myopia may be hereditary and often the size of the eyeball itself is slightly longer than average.  If treated in a conventional way, myopia tends to increase in power, but new and radical techniques including bifocal spectacles and multifocal contact lenses can decrease or even stop the progression of this condition.

Eye Illness 3: Astigmatism

Astigmatism is an eye illness condition where there is asymmetric blur of an object. In an astigmatic eye, one direction of the image may be focused on the retina and part in front or behind the retina. Astigmatism is usually due to the shape of the front of the eye, the cornea, not being completely spherical. This results in light which would normally be focused as a point on the retina, being focused as a line. To focus the image on the retina, a cylindrical spectacle lens is required to be placed in front of the eye. This will make objects at any distance clear.

Eye Illness 4: Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a common eye illness condition where the eye loses its ability to see close objects clearly, due to age related changes. In a presbyopic eye, the lens, which would normally alter shape to adjust focus for close objects, slowly loses its flexability. This usually starts happening between the ages of 40 and 45 and can continue up to the age of 65. To focus a close image on the retina, a plus spectacle lens is required to be placed in front of the eye. This will allow the spectacle wearer to see close objects clearly, but it will make distant objects blurry. Presbyopia is experienced by everyone as it is part of the aging process and it cannot be prevented.

I am often asked if the eye illness conditions listed here can be helped by eye exercises, and the short answer is, in most cases, no.  These conditions are not the result of a muscle deficiency, (even the age related changes!) and so the scope for vision therapy is limited in their treatment.  However, glasses or contact lenses are extremely effective, so talk to Darin about the best alternatives for treating these eye illness conditions when you visit his Sunshine Coast Optometry Practice.

There are many types of refractive eye illnesses, and different people need glasses for different tasks. Some people require them to read a paper or concentrate on a computer screen. Others require glasses for driving or watching television and some people require glasses for everything they want to see and do, both for long distance and at near.

1. Hyperopia

Hyperopia, or long-sightedness, is an eye illness condition where distant objects are clear and most often near objects are clear as well, but it requires an excessive amount of eyestrain to make them clear.  In a relaxed hyperopic eye, the image is focused behind the retina, the back of the eye. To focus the image on the retina, either excessive amounts of focus must be exerted by the individual, or a plus spectacle lens is required to be placed in front of the eye (to reduce this strain). This will allow the spectacle wearer to see all distances clearly. Hyperopia is a common contributor to behaviour and learning difficulties and if treated correctly can result in massive improvement at school.

2. Myopia

Myopia, or short-sightedness, is an eye illness condition where faraway objects are blurry, but near objects are clear. In a myopic eye, the image is focused in front of the retina. To focus the image on to the retina, a minus spectacle lens must be placed in front of the eye. This will allow the spectacle wearer to see distance clearly. Myopia may be hereditary and often the size of the eyeball itself is slightly longer than average.  If treated in a conventional way, myopia tends to increase in power, but new and radical techniques including bifocal spectacles and multifocal contact lenses can decrease or even stop the progression of this condition.

4. Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a common eye illness condition where the eye loses its ability to see close objects clearly, due to age-related changes. In a presbyopic eye, the lens, which would normally alter shape to adjust focus for close objects, slowly loses its flexibility. This usually starts happening between the ages of 40 and 45 and can continue up to the age of 65. To focus a close image on the retina, a plus spectacle lens is required to be placed in front of the eye. This will allow the spectacle wearer to see close objects clearly, but it will make distant objects blurry. Presbyopia is experienced by everyone as it is part of the aging process and it cannot be prevented.

I am often asked if the eye illness conditions listed here can be helped by eye exercises, and the short answer is, in most cases, no.  These conditions are not the result of a muscle deficiency, (even the age related changes!) and so the scope for vision therapy is limited in their treatment.  However, glasses or contact lenses are extremely effective, so talk to Darin about the best alternatives for treating these eye illness conditions when you visit his Sunshine Coast Optometry Practice.

3. Astigmatism

Astigmatism is an eye condition where there is asymmetric blur of an object. In an astigmatic eye, one direction of the image may be focused on the retina and the other part in front or behind the retina.

Astigmatism is usually due to the shape of the front of the eye, the cornea, not being completely spherical. This results in light which would normally be focused as a point on the retina, being focused as a line. To focus the image on the retina, a cylindrical spectacle lens is required to be placed in front of the eye. This will make objects at any distance clear.

The best way to understand this is to compare a soccer ball to a rugby football.  The soccer ball is spherical and has the same shape across the surface, while the rugby ball has a steep and a flat meridian.  Astigmatism is like the second ball, and requires a corrective prescription that has different powers in different dimensions of the lens.  This can at times prove to be a huge problem for contact lenses, although our new contact lenses have been very successful.

If you have astigmatism we have some great ideas on how to treat it, with glasses or contact lenses, so come and see us at Eye CU Optometrist.