WKBT La Crosse, WI-NewsChannel 8-Farsightedness

Farsightedness

Farsightedness

From mayoclinic.com

 

Overview

 

Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a common vision condition in which you can see objects in the distance clearly, but objects nearby are blurry. If you're farsighted, your eye is probably too short from front to back, causing light rays to be focused behind rather than on the back of your eye (retina).

 

The degree of your farsightedness determines your focusing ability. People who are severely farsighted are able to see clearly only objects that are a great distance away from their eyes. If you're mildly farsighted, you may be able to see clearly objects that are closer to you.

 

Farsightedness usually is present at birth and tends to run in families. Most young people don't know they have the condition because the lens of their eye is flexible enough to compensate for the condition. Therefore, most young people with farsightedness don't need corrective lenses. But as they age, the lens becomes less elastic and unable to make the necessary adjustment. By middle age, most farsighted people need corrective lenses to improve their near vision.

 

A basic eye exam can confirm farsightedness. You can easily correct this condition with eyeglasses or contact lenses. Another treatment option is surgery.

 

 

Signs and symptoms

 

Being farsighted may mean:

 

·          Nearby objects appear blurry.

·          You need to squint to see clearly.

·          You have eyestrain, including aching or burning eyes and, rarely, a headache.

·          You experience general eye discomfort after doing close tasks, such as reading, writing or drawing.

 

Causes

 

Your eye has two parts that focus images — the cornea, the clear front surface of your eye, and the lens, a clear structure inside your eye that changes shape to help focus objects. In a perfectly shaped eye, each of these focusing elements has a perfectly smooth curvature like the surface of a rubber ball. A cornea and lens with such curvature bend (refract) all incoming light the same way, making a sharply focused image on the back of your eye (retina).

 

However, if your cornea or lens isn't evenly and smoothly curved, light rays aren't refracted properly, and you have a refractive error. Farsightedness is one type of refractive error. It occurs when your cornea is curved too little or your eye is shorter than normal. Instead of being focused precisely on your retina, light is focused behind your retina, resulting in a blurry appearance for close-up objects.

 

In addition to farsightedness, other refractive errors include:

 

·          Nearsightedness (myopia). This occurs when your cornea is curved too much or your eye is longer than normal. The effect is the opposite of farsightedness. Light is focused in front of your retina, making faraway objects blurry. You're able to see nearby objects clearly.

·          Astigmatism. This occurs when your cornea or lens is curved more steeply in one direction than in another. Uncorrected astigmatism blurs your vision. Typically, the blurred vision occurs more in one direction than in another — horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

 

When to seek medical advice

 

If your degree of farsightedness is pronounced enough that you can't perform a task as well as you wish, or if your quality of vision detracts from your enjoyment of activities, see an eye doctor. He or she can determine the degree of your farsightedness and advise you of options to correct your vision.

 

 

Screening and diagnosis

 

Farsightedness is diagnosed by a basic eye exam. Three kinds of eye specialists, each with different training and experience, can provide routine eye care:

 

Ophthalmologists. An ophthalmologist is an eye specialist with an M.D. (doctor of medicine) degree. He or she is trained to have a thorough understanding of all serious eye conditions and the treatment options available to you. Ophthalmologists perform eye surgery when it's necessary.

Optometrists. An optometrist has an O.D. (doctor of optometry) degree. For the most part, an optometrist is limited to evaluating vision, prescribing corrective lenses and diagnosing eye disorders for referral to an ophthalmologist.

Opticians. An optician is an eye specialist who fills prescriptions for eyeglasses — assembling, fitting and selling them. Some states also allow opticians to sell and fit contact lenses. The American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lens Examiners administer tests to certify the skills of opticians.

A complete eye examination involves a series of tests. Your eye doctor may use odd-looking instruments, aim bright lights directly at your eyes and request that you look through an array of lenses. Each test is necessary and allows your doctor to examine a different aspect of your vision.

 

According to American Academy of Ophthalmology, recommendations for regular eye exams include:

 

Adults

If you don't wear glasses or contacts, have no symptoms of eye trouble and are at a low risk of developing eye disease, it's recommended that you have an eye exam at the following intervals:

 

At least once between ages 20 and 39

Every 2 to 4 years between ages 40 and 64

Every 1 to 2 years beginning at age 65

However, if you wear glasses or contacts, have your eyes checked every year. And if you notice any problems with your vision, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible, even if you've recently had an eye exam. Blurred vision, for example, may suggest you need a prescription change.

 

Children and adolescents

Children need to be screened for eye disease and have their vision tested by a pediatrician, an ophthalmologist or another trained screener at the following ages and intervals:

 

·          Between birth and 3 months

·          Between 6 months and 1 year

·          Around 3 years

·          Around 5 years

·          Your child or adolescent may need more frequent visits if he or she experiences any problems with vision or has symptoms of eye trouble. In addition, children and adolescents who have a disease that puts their eyes at risk, such as diabetes, may need more frequent eye exams.

 

 

Complications

 

If left untreated farsightedness can cause complications, such as:

 

·          Reduced quality of life. Farsightedness can affect your quality of life. You might not be able to perform a task as well as you wish, and your limited vision may detract from your enjoyment of day-to-day activities.

·          Eyestrain. Squinting your eyes to see nearby objects can cause eyestrain and headaches.

·          Impaired safety. For your own safety and that of others, don't drive or operate heavy equipment if you have an uncorrected vision problem.

 

Treatment

 

The goal of treating farsightedness is to address the uneven curvature of the cornea or lens that's causing your blurred vision. Treatments include wearing corrective lenses and undergoing refractive surgery.

 

Corrective lenses

Wearing corrective lenses treats farsightedness by counteracting the uneven curvature of your cornea. Types of corrective lenses include:

 

·          Contact lenses. A wide variety of contact lenses are available — hard, soft, extended wear, disposable, rigid gas-permeable (RGP) and bifocal. Ask your eye doctor about their pros and cons and what might be best for you.

·          Eyeglasses. An alternative to contact lenses is eyeglasses. Like contact lenses, the variety of eyeglasses is wide.

 

Refractive surgery

This treatment corrects farsightedness by reshaping the curvature of your cornea. Refractive surgery methods include:

 

·          LASIK surgery. Laser-assisted in-situ keratolmileusis (LASIK) is a procedure in which an ophthalmologist uses an instrument called a keratome to make a thin, circular hinged cut into your cornea. Your eye surgeon then uses an excimer laser to remove layers from the center of your cornea to steepen its domed shape. An excimer laser differs from other lasers in that it doesn't produce heat.

·          Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Instead of sculpting the inner layers of your cornea, your eye surgeon uses an excimer laser to reshape the outer layers. After removing the thin, protective layer of your cornea (epithelium), your surgeon steepens the curvature of your cornea. The epithelium grows back and conforms to the new shape of your cornea.

 

Self-care

 

Although you can't prevent farsightedness, you can help protect your eyes and your vision. Follow these steps:

 

·          Have your eyes checked. Regardless of how well you see, have your eyes checked regularly.

·          Control chronic health conditions. Certain conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can affect your vision if you don't receive proper treatment.

·          Recognize symptoms. Sudden loss of vision in one eye, sudden hazy or blurred vision, flashes of light, black spots, or halos or rainbows around lights may signal a serious medical problem, such as acute glaucoma or a stroke. Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

·          Protect your eyes from the sun. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This is especially important if you spend long hours in the sun or are taking a prescription medication that increases your sensitivity to UV radiation.

·          Eat healthy foods. Try foods that contain vitamin A and beta-carotene, such as carrots, yams and cantaloupe.

·          Use the right glasses. The right glasses optimize your vision. Having regular exams will ensure that your eyeglass prescription is correct.

·          Use good lighting. Turn up the light for better vision.