Refractive Errors: Astigmatism, Hyperopia & Myopia

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What are refractive errors?

Refractive errors are seen in 20 percent of children. The following are the most common refractive errors, all of which affect vision and may require corrective lenses:

What causes refractive errors?

Refractive errors (myopia and hyperopia) have been found to cluster in families. A variety of inheritance patterns have been observed including dominant (one gene passed from a parent with a refractive error to a child), recessive (caused by two genes, one inherited from each parent who may/may not have a refractive error), and multifactorial (combination of genes and environment). Refractive errors are present in a number of genetic disorders, such as Marfan syndrome and Down syndrome.

Astigmatism (click to enlarge)

Astigmatism - Astigmatism is a condition in which an abnormal curvature of the cornea can cause two focal points to fall in two different locations making objects up close and at a distance appear blurry. Astigmatism may cause eye strain and also may be combined with nearsightedness or farsightedness. Astigmatism can start in childhood or in adulthood. Some symptoms include headache, eye strain, and/or fatigue. Eye rubbing and head tilt or turn are sometimes noted. If correction is needed, vision tends to be sharper and more consistent with spectacles than contact lenses.

Hyperopia (click to enlarge)

Hyperopia - Commonly known as farsightedness, hyperopia is the refractive error in which an image of a distant object becomes focused behind the retina, either because the eyeball axis is too short, or because the refractive power of the object is too weak.

This condition makes close objects appear out of focus and may cause headaches, eye strain, and/or fatigue. Squinting, eye rubbing, lack of interest in school, and difficulty in reading are often seen in children with hyperopia.

Eyeglasses or contact lenses may help to correct or improve hyperopia by adjusting the focusing power to the retina. Often times, a correction with spectacles for near activities is warranted.

Myopia (click to enlarge)

Myopia - Commonly known as nearsightedness, myopia is a condition in which, opposite of hyperopia, an image of a distant object becomes focused in front of the retina, either because the eyeball axis is too long or because the refractive power of the object is too strong.

Myopia is the most common refractive error seen in children. This condition makes distant objects appear out of focus and may cause headaches and/or eye strain. You may notice that your child sits close to the television and often squints to better see distant objects.

Eyeglasses or contact lenses may help to correct or improve myopia by adjusting the focusing power to the retina.



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