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Vision Information
Articles
Healthy Eyes Healthy People Adult Checklist
Macular Degeneration: There's Hope
Diabetic? Get Eyes Checked Once a Year
Below you will find brief descriptions for the most common eye conditions. Clicking the link
for More Information found at the end of each section will open a window with a more detailed
description found at All About Vision
(allaboutvision.com).
Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Refractive condition of the eye in which distance vision is less clear than near vision.
Also called nearsightedness (i.e. the eye has near sight). This can be corrected with glasses,
contact lenses and laser refractive surgery.
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Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Refractive condition of the eye in which near vision is less clear than distance vision.
Also called farsightedness (i.e. the eye has far sight). This can also be corrected with glasses,
contact lenses and, in some cases, refractive surgery.
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Astigmatism
Refractive condition of the eye in which the eye is unable to create a point focus because
there is more than one curvature to the cornea or lens. Glasses and contact lenses can be used
to correct this. Laser refractive surgery is also a consideration when combined with myopia or
hyperopia.
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Presbyopia
The inability to change focus from distance to near. This usually occurs after age forty as
part of the aging process. Reading glasses or bifocals are used to compensate for the change.
Refractive laser surgery will not correct this problem.
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Glaucoma
The new definition of glaucoma is a group of diseases characterized by damage to the optic
nerve. While some causes of glaucoma are known, the exact nature of the disease is still not
well understood. A family history and elevated pressure in the eye are some of the risk factors
for glaucoma.
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Cataracts
Any opacity, or cloudiness, in the lens of the eye is considered a cataract, although not
all cataracts affect vision. Cataracts are most common in older age groups as part of the aging
process, but some types of cataracts can develop at any age. A cataract is treated by removing
the cloudy natural lens, and most often is replaced with an artificial lens or "implant".
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Macular Degeneration
Changes in the macula area of the retina, where central vision os located, can be caused by
degeneration, usually associated with age. The process of degeneration has been getting
considerable attention in clinical studies over the last several years, yet we still don't know
the exact mechanism. It is thought that the degeneration is related to nutrition to the
receptors in the macula, and most studies are looking at ways to maintain the health of those
receptors.
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Flashes and Floaters
Flashes and floaters are one of the most common symptoms of patients. Many causes are normal
changes in the vitreous, or may be associated with migraine headaches. However, more serious
causes exist, such as retinal tears and detachments, and that means that any episode of newly
acquired flashes and floaters warrants an immediate call to your eye doctor.
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