Frequently asked Questions
What is Myopia :
Myopia , or more commonly called “short sight” is where the eye is either fractionally too long or the front curve of the eye is slightly steep , leaving the eye over powered . It mainly causes blurring of distance objects but if sufficiently myopic , close up will be blurry aswell .
What is Hyperopia
Hyperopia , or Long Sight , is where the eye is slightly too short , or the front of the eye is not steep enough , leaving the eye underpowered . It mainly causes blurring of close work but depending on the age of the person and the degree of hyperopic , it can cause difficulties with distance
What is Astigmatism
The front of the eye should have a perfectly round surface , like a football . However with astigmatism , the front of the eye is shaped more like a rugby ball , causing distortion of objects for both distance and near .
I have been told my child has a Lazy eye , what does this mean .
It is every parents dread , being told there is something “wrong “ with their child . However if properly managed “Lazy Eye” can be improved dramatically and as a result have no effect on their day to day life .
Lazy eye , or also known as Amblyopia, is where one of the eyes is not developing correctly . When we are born and for the first number of years of life , we are learning how to see . The eyes focus on an object and the brain then trains itself to recognise the object ( Bit like learning a foreign language , initially when we listen we can hear the person speaking but we do not understand what they are saying , however over time we would begin to make sense of the sounds and recognise the meaning .)
If However , one of the eyes is blurred , most commonly with Hyperopia or astigmatism , the eye cannot focus on the object and therefore the brain cannot “learn” what the object is .
This problem needs to be detected as early as possible in life to have a successful treatment . It is normally corrected with spectacles , occlusion therapy ( patching ) or a combination of both .
There is a strong genetic link to lazy eye , therefore if there is a family history of lazy eye , it is vital your child is monitored closely for this condition .
Am I suitable for contact lenses .
In short , the simple answer is yes , the vast majority of people will benefit from contact lenses . Most people can wear lenses 12-14 hours per day without any discomfort or irritation . Some people who would experience dry eye find lens wear less successful but still can manage part time wear , for sports or social .
Children can benefit greatly from lens wear for sports , and as soon as Mom or Dad feels they will listen to and obey the rules of lenswear , they can be fitted . However it is not recommended they would wear contact lenses on a full time basis until they are teenagers . The optician will tailor a wearing schedule suitable to their individual needs .
External Links
Diabetes and the eye further information
Glaucoma further information
Age Related Macular Degeneration further information
Retinal Detachment further information
Cataract further information
