Nearsightedness (Myopia)
Nearsightedness or myopia, occurs when light entering the
eye focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on
it. Nearsightedness is the inability of the eye to focus
on distant objects. The nearsigthed eye has no diffiuclty
viewing nearby objects.
Signs and Symptons: blurry distant vision
vision seems clearer when squinting
Detection and Diagnosis: Nearsightedness is detected
with a vision test and refraction. Vision can be corrected
with contact lenses, glasses or surgery.
Nearsightedness can be corrected through the fitting
of hard, soft or gas permeable contact lenses from all
major manufacturers including: Bausch & Lomb Soflens,
Ciba Vision Focus, Acuvue, Fresh Look, Proclear, Coopervision,
and others.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia describes an eye in which the natural lens
can no longer accomodate (the eye's way of changing its
focusing distance). At about the age of 40 the lens becomes
less flexible and accomodation is gradually lost. It is
a normal process that everyone will eventually experience.
Signs and Symptoms: difficulty seeing clearly for close
up
print seems to have less contrast brighter more direct
light is required for reading fatigue and eyestrain when
reading
Detction and Diagnosis: Presbyopia can be detected with
vision testing and a refraction.
Presbyopia is treated based on a person's age, lifestyle,
occupation and hobies. When a person has good distance
vision and only has difficulty seeing up close, reading
glasses can be a solution. Multifocal (bifocal contact
lenses) and contact lenses using monovision (using contact
lens by adjusting one eye for distance vision, and the
other eye for reading vision) can correct presbyopia.
Contact lenses from all major manufacturers including
Bausch & Lomb Soflens, Ciba Vision Focus, Acuvue,
Fresh Look, Proclear, Coopervision, and others can be
use to correct presbyopia.
Farsightedness (Hyperopia)
Farsightedness or hyperopia occurs when light entering
the eye focuses behind the retina, instead of directly
on it. Farsighted people usually have trouble seeing up
close, but my also have difficulty seeing far away as
well as we age.
Signs and Symptoms: dificulty seeing close
eye fatigue when reading
eye strain
Farsightedness is detected with a vision test called
a refraction.
Correction for Farsightedness can be accomplished with
contact lenses, eye glasses, or in some cases surgery.
Farsightedness can be corrected through the fitting of
contact lenses from all major manufacturers including:
Bausch & Lomb Soflens, Ciba Vision Focus, Fresh Look,
Acuvue, Proclear, Coopervision, and others.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism results from the cornea of the eye being shapped
like an oval instead of spherical. This causes light to
focus on more than one point in the eye, resulting in
blurred vision at distance or near.
Signs and Symptoms: blurred vision (distance or near)
Astigmatism is detected with vision test called a refraction.
Correction for astigmatism can be accomplished with contact
lenses, eye glasses, or surgery.
Astigmatism can be corrected through the fitting of toric
contact lenses from all major manufacturers including:
Bausch & Lomb Soflens, Ciba Vision Focus, Fresh Look,
Acuvue, Proclear, Coopervision, and others.
Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is one of the most common problems treated
by eye physicians. It is usually caused by a problem with
the quality of the tear film that lubricates the eyes.
There are many causes for dry eye syndrome. One of the
most common reasons for dryness is the normal aging process.
As we age the body produces less oil. The oil deficiency
affects the tear film, by reducing the seal for the watery
layer of the tear film. The tear film will then evaporate
much faster, leaving dry areas on the cornea.
Contact lens wearers experience dry eye syndrome because
the contacts absorb the tear film.
Signs and Symptoms:
itching
burning
irritation
redness
blurred vision that improves with blinking
excessive tearing
Dry eye syndrome is detected with a test that measures
the production, evaporation rate and quality of the tear
film, using special drops.
Dry eye syndrome can be treated in differect ways. Some
find releif by using artificial tears on a regular basis,
contact lenses, or surgery.
Dry eye syndrome should be considered when selecting
a contact lens. Many major manufacturers including Bausch
& Lomb Soflens, Ciba Vision Focus, Acuvue, Proclear,
and many others have designed lenses to help in the relief
of dry eye syndrome.
Always contact your eye care professional for evaluation
and complete vision care.
