Eye Conditions - Cunningham Vision Center

The most common eye conditions can be broken down into:

Vision Conditions (Refractive Errors):

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

Astigmatism

Presbyopia

Eye Health Conditions:

Cataract

Dry eye syndrome

Glaucoma

VISION CONDITIONS (REFRACTIVE ERRORS)

MYOPIA (Nearsightedness)

Myopia, the most common refractive error, affects over 25 percent of the population. Myopia usually becomes evident in children between the ages of 8 and 12 and worsens until early adulthood.

Myopic or nearsighted people can usually see near objects clearly, but distant objects are out of focus. This usually occurs when the eyeball is longer than normal from front to back. The extra length means the light from distant objects focuses in front of the retina. Light continues on to reach the retina, but the projected image is blurred. Myopia also can occur when the curvature of the cornea is overly steep (or ìover bulgedî). The resulting extra refraction has the same result as the elongated eyeball: the focus falls short of the retina.

Myopia can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or in some cases, refractive surgery. Contact lenses may be valuable in the overall treatment approach to myopia control. Research and clinical experience has shown that rigid contact lenses can slow the progression of myopia. Your optometrist may recommend the programmed application of contact lenses known as orthokeratology that changes the shape of the cornea without surgery.

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HYPEROPIA (Farsightedness)

Hyperopic or farsighted people have better distance vision than near vision. Hyperopia occurs when the eyeball is too short. The reduced length means the point of focus lies beyond the back wall of the eye, and light rays are not yet in focus when they arrive at the retina. The result is a blurred image. Improper corneal curvature can also cause hyperopia. If the cornea is too flat, not enough refraction of light rays from near objects takes place to bring them into focus on the retina.

Normally, all young children have a small degree of hyperopia that decreases as they progress through their teens. Despite their hyperopia, most youngsters can see well at all distances because the accommodation provided by the crystalline lens is enough to compensate for minor hyperopic refractive errors. As we age, the lens loses its ability to focus, so hyperopia may manifest itself when people get older and therefore must be corrected.

Hyperopia can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or in some cases, refractive surgery.

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ASTIGMATISM:

Astigmatism is an overall inability of the eye to focus clearly at any distance because of uneven curvatures of the cornea. Essentially, the cornea is oval, having a surface shaped more like a football rather than being rounded like a basketball. Though astigmatism can occur by itself, it is most commonly found in combination with myopia or hyperopia.

Astigmatism can cause light rays to focus at more than one point on the retina, and objects at all distances appear distortedómuch the same way as some fun house mirrors make images too tall, wide, thin, or short. Many corneas have at least a tiny degree of astigmatism, but for most, the resulting distortion is not discernible. As the curvature of the cornea becomes more uneven, image distortion increases. Astigmatism is often inherited.

Astigmatism can be corrected with eyeglasses, eyeglasses, contact lenses, or in some cases, refractive surgery.

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PRESBYOPIA:

Presbyopia means ìold eyesî in Latin. The crystalline lens inside the eye is responsible for fine tuned focusing when performing near visual tasks. The lens is elastic and changes shape in order to focus. With the passage of time, the lens loses elasticity and the ability to focus becomes difficult. When this occurs, our ability to focus close-up diminishes, and our eyes are said to be presbyopic.

This condition usually becomes noticeable between the ages of 40 and 50, and people with otherwise normal eyesight find it increasingly difficult to read or do activities within armís length. To see clearly, it becomes necessary to hold reading material further and further away. Many develop the need for bifocal or multi-focal lenses to see clearly at all distances.

Presbyopia can be corrected with reading glasses, bifocals, trifocals, or progressive (no-line) lenses. Contact lenses can also be helpful. Many bifocal contact lenses are available as well as monovision. Monovision is a procedure in which your dominant eye is corrected for distance and your non-dominant eye is corrected for near.

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COMMON EYE HEALTH CONDITIONS

CATARACT

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye. Common symptoms of cataracts include painless blurring of vision, glare, light sensitivity, poor night vision, fading or yellowing of colors, and the necessity of brighter light for reading.

The most common type of cataract is related to normal aging of the eye. With the passage of time, the lens begins to fog and absorbs ultraviolet (UV) light causing a yellowing of the normally clear structure. Sunglasses that include UV protection and regular prescription glasses with a clear UV coating can provide protection from excessive sunlight, which may help prevent or slow the progression of cataracts.

Most cataracts associated with the aging process gradually develop over a period of years, while others can progress over a matter of months. These other causes include medical conditions (such as diabetes), medications (such as steroids), and previous eye surgery.

The only way to get rid of a cataract is to remove the lens, however if symptoms are only mild, a change in glasses might help. Cataract surgery is completely voluntary. If someone with cataracts is still able to perform their necessary daily activities, surgery might not yet be necessary.

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DRY EYE SYNDROME

Dry eye syndrome occurs when eyes have persistent dryness, scratching, burning, frequent redness, or even just feeling like something is in the eye. This most often occurs as a result of an imbalance of the quantity or the quality of tears.

Oddly, watery eyes can also result from dry eye syndrome. The excessive dryness works to over stimulate the watery component of the eyeís tears.

Dry eye symptoms may be caused by many things such as:

The Environmentóweather, high altitudes, heat or air conditioners

Insufficient blinkingósometimes occurs when watching TV, reading, or working on the computer

Contact Lens WearóIncreases tear evaporation and related dry eye symptoms.

Tear DrainageóToo much tear drainage or too little tear production

LASIK corrective surgeryóCorneal nerve damage decreases tear production

MedicationsóIncluding decongestants, antihistamines, diuretics, and birth control pills.

AgingóTear production gradually decreases with age.

If left untreated, severely dry eyes may lead to chronic infection of your eye and eye lids, corneal ulceration, scarring, permanent vision loss, or even loss of your eyes.

Eye drops may temporarily relieve dry eye symptoms, but if this is not sufficient, your optometrist may recommend Lacrimal (Punctal) Occlusion.

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GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S. It most often occurs in people over age 40. Those who are at a higher risk of developing the disease include, but are not limited to, people with a family history of glaucoma, African Americans, and those who are diabetic.

Glaucoma is characterized by a group of different eye disorders that can damage the eyeís optic nerve and lead to vision loss, even blindness. The eye has a pressure just like the blood, and when this intraocular fluid pressure (IOP) increases to dangerous levels, it damages the optic nerve. This damage can result in decreased peripheral (side) vision and, eventually, blindness. While increased IOP is usually present, some susceptible patients lose sight with "normal" pressures.

The most common type of glaucoma develops gradually and painlessly, without symptoms. A rarer type occurs rapidly and its symptoms may include blurred vision, loss of side vision, seeing colored rings around lights and pain or redness in the eyes.

The treatment for glaucoma includes prescription eye drops and medicines to lower the pressure in the eyes. In some cases, laser treatment or surgery may be effective in reducing pressure.

Glaucoma cannot be prevented, but if diagnosed and treated early, it can be controlled. Vision lost to glaucoma cannot be restored, therefore, yearly comprehensive eye examinations are recommended.

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