Month: March 2018

Let’s Talk About Nearsightedness and Farsightedness

What Is Nearsightedness?

Myopia, or more commonly known as nearsightedness, is quite a common disorder found both in children and older adults. The condition is a refractive error in the lens of the eye, which results in nearer objects appearing clearer while further objects appear blurred.

Nearsightedness is caused when the natural focal length of the eye becomes too powerful and the eye becomes elongated. As a result, the image is formed in front of the retina instead of on it, creating a blurred and unclear effect.

The actual cause of myopia is still in debate, though some theories have been provided, the most common of which says that staying too close to screens and books leads to nearsightedness, though this theory still need to be proven.

As much as the bodily cause for nearsightedness is not very well understood, but treatments are available. Most of the time, people opt for concave lens glasses to correct their vision. However, contact lenses, and even laser eye surgery has been known to be just as effective, though a bit more expensive.

What Is Farsightedness?

Hyperopia, or more commonly known as farsightedness is a medical condition in which the person is able to focus on further objects, but nearer objects seem blurry. This is in effect caused by the eye becoming too short, or is the result of the lens losing its natural power. The disease is most common among adults.

Farsightedness is usually corrected by eyeglasses with convex lenses, although laser surgery and contact lenses have recently seen the light. Another modern technique used to correct the farsightedness is to get refractive surgery done which completely alters the shape of the cornea and therefore increases refractive vision. There are several choices and options you can go for, as there are a wide variety of eye surgeries from which you can choose from. However, we would highly recommend you to consult with your eye care professional first.

How to determine if you’re farsighted or nearsighted?

Let us talk about the basics first, when you are diagnosed with farsightedness or nearsightedness, the eye care professional will probably hand you a prescription and they will also inform you of the degree to which your eyes have been affected.

There are two ideas you will need to keep in mind when attempting to read or comprehend the prescription: “OS” and “OD”. These terms define the degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness to the left eye and right eye respectively.
The next part is relatively easy as it involves a single number that indicates the power of the lens which you will need in order to sharpen or correct the images for your eyes. If, for example, this power is in positive range, then you have been diagnosed as farsighted. The higher the number, the greater degree of farsightedness. If it turns out to be a negative number, then you can consider yourself nearsighted.

A close up look at a farsighted eye

What is an Optometrist?

What is an optometrist

An optometrist is a medical professional who authorized and licensed to practice on a person’s eyes. Optometrists are important health care professionals for eyes and who provide in-depth eye and vision maintenance. This incorporates administering and refraction, recognition/finding any illness or flaw in the eye and the recovery of the deficiencies in the eye framework.

What do they do?

An optometrist is a doctor who is an independent professional and health care expert for the eye. These professionals analyze, treat, diagnose and oversee wounds, infections, and disarranges of the eye. They also perform the following additional duties:

1. Optometrists recommend prescriptions, low vision restoration, vision treatment, display focal points and perform specific surgical procedures.

2. They advise their patients with respect to non-surgical and surgical alternatives that meet their affiliated visual needs with their occupations, hobbies and overall way of life.

What sort of education do Optometrists require?

Optometrists complete undergrad training in a university or college and then apply for a four years professional degree program at an institute of optometry and get the doctor of optometry degree.
Many optometrists complete a discretionary residency in a particular period of training. A few optometrists get extra clinical teaching after optometry school. They center on customary vision care and recommend eyeglasses and contacts if clients will benefit from them.

Getting your eyes checked by an optometrist