Vision Conditions

Below are brief descriptions of the vision conditions we commonly see and treat at Eyecare Associates.

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

Farsightedness, medically known as hyperopia, refers to vision that is good at a distance but not at close range. Farsightedness occurs when the eyeball is shorter than normal, as measured from front to back, or when the cornea has too little curvature. This reduces the distance between the cornea and retina, causing light to converge behind the retina, rather than directly on it.

If you are mildly farsighted, your eye care provider may not recommend corrective treatment at all. However, if you are moderately or severely hyperopic, you have several treatment options available, including eyeglasses, contacts, LASIK, and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

Nearsightedness, medically known as myopia, refers to vision that is good at close range but not at a distance. It generally occurs because the eyeball is too “long” as measured from front to back.
Nearsightedness is diagnosed during routine eye exams and possible treatments include eyeglasses, contacts, acrylic corneal implants, LASIK, and photorefractive keratotomy (PRK).

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is an uneven or irregular curvature of the cornea or lens which results in blurred or distorted vision. Other symptoms of astigmatism include eye strain, headaches, the need to squint, and eye fatigue.

In reality, most people have some degree of astigmatism which is usually present at birth and is believed to be hereditary. In minor cases, treatment may not be required but is certainly beneficial. Moderate to severe astigmatism can be treated with corrective eyewear or LASIK surgery.

Presbyopia

Aging eyes, medically known as presbyopia, is a condition in which the lens of the eye gradually loses its flexibility, making it harder to focus clearly on close objects such as printed words. Over time, distance vision may also be affected.

Unfortunately, presbyopia is an inevitable part of aging and cannot be prevented by diet, lifestyle, or healthy visual habits. However, it is treatable with several types of corrective lenses, including progressives, bifocals and trifocals, single-vision reading glasses, multifocal contact lenses, and monovision therapy.

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Lazy eye, medically known as amblyopia, is a loss or lack of development of vision, usually in one eye. This degenerative process usually begins with an inherited condition and appears during infancy or early childhood. Lazy eye needs to be diagnosed between birth and early school age since it is during this period that the brain “chooses” its visual pathway and may ignore the weaker eye permanently.

Lazy eye is not always easy to recognize since a child with worse vision in one eye does not necessarily have lazy eye. Because of this, it is recommended that all children, including those with no symptoms, have a comprehensive eye examination by the age of three—sooner if there is a family history of any eye condition or disease. If you suspect a problem, or need to set up your child’s first eye examination, please contact us to set up an appointment.