Hyperopia Myopia

There are two basic types of astigmatism; myopia and hyperopia. These two types affect up to one third of the population and can be treated in a variety of ways from corrective lenses to surgery.

Myopia, or nearsightedness occurs when the eyeball is slightly longer than usual from front to back or the shape of the cornea is too steep. This causes the light entering the eye to come to a focus in front of the retina which results in a blurred distance vision.

Hyperopia, or farsightedness is the opposite of myopia. It occurs when the eyeball is slightly shorter than normal, or the shape of the cornea is too flat. This cause the light entering the eye to come to a focus behind the retina, which results in blurred near vision. Distance vision may also be blurred depending on the severity of hyperopia.

Presbyopia is an age related condition that effects your ability to focus clearly on near objects like printed text, computer screens and photographs. It primarily affects people over the age of 40 and is not a disease.

When light from a close object enters the eye it naturally comes to focus behind the retina. To focus the light properly the cilliary muscle around your lens contracts, which changes the shape of the lens, allowing the light to focus properly. With Presbyopia, your lens begins to gradually harden as you get older. This hardening of the lens does not allow it to change shape properly resulting in blurred vision.

There are a variety of ways to correct presbyopia including glasses, bifocals, trifocals or contact lenses. LASIK surgery or conductive keratoplasty, known as CK, are also options. Because Presbyopia is a gradual process you will need to consult your eyecare provider regularly to monitor the condition