How does an ametropia develop?
A refractive error occurs when the focal point of the eye is not exactly at one point on the retina. This can be caused, for example, by a mismatch between the overall length of the eyeball and the refractive power of the lens, or by a curvature of the cornea. The rays of light that hit the retina can only transmit a blurred or distorted image to the brain.
How many forms of ametropia exists?
Nearsightedness (myopia)
In the case of short-sightedness, blurring occurs in the far range, while seeing at close range is often possible without visual aids. The diopters are then in the minus range. CARE Vision usually carries out laser eye treatment for myopia of up to -10 diopters.
Several eye laser techniques can be used to correct myopia. After a detailed examination of your eyes, the doctor treating you will determine which treatment method is most suitable for you. You have the opportunity to ask all questions about ametropia or poor eyesight. You will also find all information on the subject of visual defects and their corrections.
Do you need your glasses or contact lenses to see people and things in the distance clearly? Then you are most likely short-sighted. As a short-sighted patient, the treatment methods LASIK, Femto-LASIK, PRK/LASEK and Trans-PRK methods can be considered for you. An examination of your eyes and your ametropia will give you information about the most suitable method for you and the expected costs.
Symptoms of nearsightedness
In addition to blurred vision, the following symptoms can occur if myopia is not sufficiently corrected:
- Headache
- Overexertion of the muscles around the eyes by squinting the eyes
- Frequent blinking
- Increased eye rubbing
- Increased intraocular pressure with possible secondary diseases
- Higher risk of retinal detachment
Farsightedness (hyperopia)
Long-sightedness leads to blurring both in the near and in the far range. The diopters in the case of long-sightedness are displayed in the plus range. CARE Vision usually carries out laser eye treatment for farsightedness of up to +4 diopters.
Do you see things and text passages as blurry as soon as you hold them close to your eyes? Then you are most likely farsighted. This is an axial refractive error of the eye. The eyeball is too short in relation to the refractive power of its optical system, or the refractive power of the lens is too low. In the case of farsightedness, the LASIK, Femto-LASIK, PRK/LASEK and Trans-PRK methods can be considered for you – depending on the condition of your eyes and personal circumstances.
Symptoms of farsightedness
Depending on the degree of farsightedness, the following symptoms can occur:
- Headache
- Eye pain or burning
- Tiredness
- Frequent conjunctivitis
- Watery eyes
Corneal curvature (astigmatism)
With astigmatism, the surface of the eyeball is so unevenly shaped that it is not possible to focus the incident light on a point on the retina. This distorts the visual impression.
Patients with astigmatism often have blurred vision. Astigmatism usually occurs in combination with nearsightedness or farsightedness. Here, too, an eye laser correction offers the solution (treatment method depending on the condition of the eye). Your specialist will explain all the options to you in detail.
Symptoms of astigmatism
- Headache
- Eye pain and burning
- Perception of double vision
- increased sensitivity to light
- Dry, sometimes watery, slightly reddened eyes
Presbyopia
With presbyopia, the natural lens increasingly loses the flexibility to adjust to different distances. First of all, vision at close distances is affected.
From around their mid-40s, many people notice that when they read – be it on their smartphone, in the newspaper or with price tags – they have to exert themselves more and more in order to see clearly. You can compensate for these first signs of presbyopia by holding the objects a little further away. However, as the symptoms worsen, visual aids or eye treatment will eventually become necessary.
Symptoms of presbyopia
There are a number of clear symptoms of presbyopia:
- Headache
- Eyes tire quickly
- Feeling of pressure
- Dizziness
How can you
correct an ametropia?
Depending on the type and severity of the ametropia and the individual condition of the eyes, there are different correction approaches today. On the one hand, visual aids such as glasses and contact lenses are used. On the other hand, refractive surgery enables the correction of ametropia.