What is farsightedness?
Farsightedness is a condition in which you have no problem seeing
objects in the distance, but may have difficulty focusing clearly
on near objects. The blurriness is caused by an eyeball that is too
short, causing light rays to focus behind the retina, instead of
directly on the retina, which is necessary for normal vision. This
form of farsightedness is called hyperopia (hi-per-OH-pee-ah). Its
symptoms include eyestrain or headache. In children, a lack of
interest in reading may be a sign. The condition will usually
worsen over time.
What is color blindness?
Color blindness is a condition in which an individual cannot
distinguish between certain colors, especially those with red and
green tones. Approximately ten percent of all men are affected with
this type of color blindness, while women are rarely affected with
this disorder.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism (a-STEEG-ma-tiz-em) is caused by an irregular curvature
of the cornea. The cornea is the transparent front surface of the
eye and it is normally round in shape. If you have astigmatism,
your cornea is shaped more like a football, causing your vision to
be distorted. The blur from astigmatism is frequently combined with
nearsightedness or farsightedness, and can usually be corrected
with glasses or contact lenses. If you choose to wear contact
lenses and have a high degree of astigmatism, a hard or gas
permeable lens may be needed to correct your vision. In some cases,
a special soft lens, called a toric lens, may be required. The
symptoms of astigmatism are blurry vision, headaches and eyestrain.
If you experience any of these visual problems, see an eye doctor
for a thorough eye examination.
What causes cataracts?
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens inside the eye.
Cataracts cannot spread and are not contagious. They cannot be
prevented, nor can their progress be stopped or reversed. Cataract
progression may be slowed down with the use of ultra violet
protective eyewear or contact lenses.
How often should I have my eyes examined?
You should always check with your personal eye doctor because
eyecare, like all medical exams and treatment, is individualized.
Most eyecare professionals will tell you it is good to have your
eyes examined once a year.
How often should I replace my contact
lenses?
Many doctors believe that you should replace regular lenses at
least every 4-6 months and disposable lenses every 1-2 weeks.
Everyone's needs are different, always consult your doctor.
I've never worn glasses before, but after I turned 40 my
doctor prescribed reading glasses to me. He told me that I had
presbyopia. What does that mean?
Presbyopia (prez-bee-OH-pee-ah) is the term used for the diminished
power of accommodation or focusing ability of the eye. The
crystalline lens in the eye loses elasticity with age. This leads
to a loss of ability of the lens to change from distance vision to
near vision. The symptoms usually first appear around the age of
forty. It is at this time that people begin to notice that their
near vision is diminishing, and they need to hold tiny objects
further away in order to see clearly. This is a normal aging change
of the human eye. Presbyopia can easily be corrected with the use
of reading glasses or contact lenses. Consult your eye care
provider.
Is pink eye contagious?
Conjunctivitis (kon-junk-ti-VIE-tis) or pink eye, as it is commonly
called, is an inflammation of the conjuctiva (kon-junk-TI-vah), or
the thin, transparent membrane lining of the eyelids and front of
the eyeball. Conjunctivitis can be caused by a viral or bacterial
infection, an allergy, or an irritant in the eye. Viral and
bacterial forms of conjunctivitis can be highly contagious. They
can spread by contact with contaminated fingers, towels,
handkerchiefs, or wash cloths. Symptoms may include eye swelling,
redness, irritation, and a yellow, sticky discharge that cause the
eyelids to stick together. The infection is often treated with
antibiotic drops or ointments which must be prescribed by a doctor.
If symptoms of pink eye are experienced, an eye doctor or physician
should be consulted.
My child was diagnosed with a lazy eye. What causes
this?
Amblyopia (am-blih-o-p-ia), or lazy eye, results in defective
vision without any obvious injury or disease to the eyeball.
Amblyopia may be temporary or permanent, and it may be partial or
lead to legal blindness.
What causes crossed eyes?
Crossed eyes is a condition in which one eye looks at an object
while the other looks elsewhere, usually inward. Crossed eyes
usually occur because of misaligned or imbalanced eye muscles.
What is nearsightedness?
The inability to see objects clearly at a distance is called
nearsightedness or myopia (my-OH-pee-ah). The condition is caused
by an eyeball that is too long and focuses light rays in front of
the retina, instead of directly on the retina, which is needed for
normal vision. Myopia usually begins in childhood, making
uncorrected nearsightedness the most common eye problem among
school-age children. As the body grows, the myopia usually
progresses and then stabilizes in adulthood.
Why do my eyes feel so dry?
Tear production normally decreases with age. While dry eyes can
occur in both men and women at any age, women are most often
afflicted, especially after menopause. Stinging, burning,
scratchiness, stringy mucus, and excess irritation from smoke are
some of the usual symptoms of dry eye. Excessive tearing is another
common symptom. In this case, there is a deficiency of lubricating
tears, causing an eye irritation that results in an outpouring or
reflex tearing.
Why should I have my eyes examined?
It is important to have your eyes examined regularly. During an
exam, eyes should be checked for health problems as well as visual
acuity (ak-YOU-it-tee). How often you should have your eyes checked
varies, depending on your individual circumstances. The American
Academy of Ophthalmology (op-thal-MALL-o-gee) recommends that
people with healthy eyes have their eyes examined periodically from
puberty to the age of forty. Children should be examined by age
three or four, and people ages forty and over should be examined by
an eye doctor every year. If you wear glasses or contact lenses,
it's a good idea to have your eyes checked every year.
