Center For Sight in Fort Myers | Optometrist | Cataract Surgery
LEARN ABOUT EYE PROBLEMS
Read about common vision problems and about how the eye sees and your options for vision correction.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION CHALLENGE?
“I can read a book or newspaper just fine, but I have problems with street and highway signs.”
Read about myopia (“nearsightedness”) and options for bringing your world back into focus.
“My vision for driving is good, but I have problems with reading and seeing things close up. ”
Read about hyperopia (“farsightedness”) and options for correcting it.
“I never had trouble reading until now. The doctor says I need reading glasses or bifocals.”
Learn about presbyopia and new options that may reduce your dependence on reading glasses or bifocals.
“When I read, the letters on the page look a little bit ‘muddy.’ Periods look like commas because my focus is not very sharp, and my eyes feel strained and tired.”
You may have astigmatism. Learn about this condition and possible treatment options that may provide sharper, more precise vision.
“I’m having more trouble driving at night because my eyes are more sensitive to light and glare.”
“I see halos around lights.”
“My vision has become blurred or dim.”
“Colors do not look the same anymore…they seem dull.”
“I’ve had to change eyeglasses more frequently than usual lately.”
“Recently, I’ve needed a brighter light for reading.”
All of these are common difficulties associated with cataracts. Read about modern cataract correction that restores clear vision and advanced replacement lens technology that may reduce your dependence on bifocals and reading glasses following cataract surgery.
“My eyes feel dry, itchy and gritty, as if something is in my eye.”
“My eyes are red and irritated and they tire easily.”
You may have a condition called “dry eye.”
HOW THE EYE SEES
NORMAL “PERFECT” VISION (“EMMETROPIA”)
The eye’s surface is convex, and light rays that hit it bend toward its center. In an eye that has a normally curved cornea and the correct shape, an image focuses exactly on the retina.
MYOPIA (“NEARSIGHTEDNESS”)
When the eyeball is too long from front to back, light rays focus in front of, rather than on, the retina. Under these circumstances, near objects are perceived clearly, but distant objects are not.
Your options:
HYPEROPIA (“FARSIGHTEDNESS”)
When the eyeball is too short from front to back, light rays entering the eye focus behind the retina. Distant objects are seen clearly but near objects are not.
Your options:
ASTIGMATISM
Vision becomes distorted when the surface of the cornea has an uneven curvature. Sometimes it is the eye’s lens that is irregularly shaped. This type of irregularity causes light to focus on more than one spot in the back of the eye, causing blurred vision.
Your options:
PRESBYOPIA (LOSS OF READING VISION)
Over time, the eye’s lens gradually loses its elasticity and its ability to change shape to see close objects. Bifocals or reading glasses are the traditional prescriptions for remedying this presbyopic loss of accommodation, but recent technology makes it possible to exchange the inflexible lens for one designed to compensate for the changes in the eye and improve functional vision at all distances.
Your options:
DRY EYE
Dry eye is a general term used to describe a group of conditions that result from a dry cornea. Symptoms of dry eye include redness and irritation. This condition can be caused by the normal aging process, medications, exposure to air pollution, or other environmental factors, and it sometimes appears in conjunction with other diseases. People who wear contact lenses are more likely to experience dry eye.
Eye redness is a key sign of dry eye. Other symptoms include itchiness or grittiness, burning or stinging in the eye, or sensitivity to light. People who have dry eye often complain that it feels like there’s something in the eye that causes discomfort, or remark that their eyes tire easily when they read or watch television. These activities require concentration, which decreases the frequency of blinking and gives the tear film that keeps the eye moist more time to evaporate.
Contact lens intolerance can also be a symptom of dry eye. Often, a person with mild to moderate dry eye may not experience symptoms of dry eye until they begin wearing contact lenses, which can upset the delicate balance of tear film production and distribution.
Diagnosis of dry eye begins with an eye exam. It is important to rule out the possibility that another condition, such as an infection, is causing your symptoms. After diagnosis, your eye doctor will suggest one or more of several treatments now available to treat dry eye.
This information is presented for educational purposes, to make it easy for you to explore your vision correction options.
However, no matter how reliable information on this or any website may be, there is no substitute for a professional examination of your eyes and a face-to-face discussion of your unique situation.
If you are experiencing any difficulty with your vision, you should schedule an eye examination.
Good vision is not a luxury…it’s a necessity. Call Carolina Eyecare Physicians to learn more about LASIK affordability.
