Common Vision Problems

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is an uneven or irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, which results in blurred or distorted vision. Other symptoms of astigmatism include the need to squint, eye strain from squinting, headaches and eye fatigue.

In reality, most people have some degree of astigmatism, which is usually present at birth and is believed to be hereditary. In minor cases, treatment may not be required but is certainly beneficial. Moderate to severe astigmatism can be treated with corrective eyewear or LASIK surgery.

Color Blindness / Deficiency

Color vision deficiency means that your ability to distinguish some colors and shades is less than normal. About eight percent of men and one percent of women are color deficient.

Red-green deficiency is the most common form, and results in the inability to distinguish certain shades of red and green. A less common type affects blue and yellow; and in very rare cases, color deficiency exists to an extent that no colors can be detected, only shades of black, white and grey.

Color deficiency is usually inherited and cannot be cured, but those affected can often be taught to adapt. Your Focused Eye Care provider can help!

Digital Eye Strain (Computer Vision Syndrome)

Digital Eye Strain aka Computer Vision Syndrome – we updated the name now that computer screens, televisions, tablets and smartphones all contribute to this condition – is characterized by neck pain, blurry vision, stiff shoulders, headache and watery eyes.

The symptoms are typically due to a failure to blink, eye muscle coordination, poorly corrected vision, and blue light emanating from screens. And because screens can be anywhere from a foot or less to eight feet or more away, regular glasses may not be the best option for handling everything your eyes are forced to focus on.

Your Focused Eye Care doctor will happily talk to you about your digital viewing habits, and help you find a corrective lens solution to provide relief.

Eye Coordination

Eye coordination is the ability of both eyes to work together as a team. Good eye coordination keeps the eyes in proper alignment, and it is a skill that must be developed.

Signs and symptoms that may indicate poor eye coordination include double vision, headaches, eye fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty in reading. Children may also display behavior that may indicate poor eye coordination, including covering one eye, poor sports performance, and avoiding tasks that require close eye work.

Because poor eye coordination can be difficult to detect, optometric examinations beginning at age 6 months, and again at age 3 years, are recommended.

Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

Farsightedness, medically known as hyperopia, refers to vision that is good at a distance but not at close range. Farsightedness occurs when the eyeball is shorter than normal, as measured from front to back, or when the cornea has too little curvature. This reduces the distance between the cornea and retina, causing light to converge behind the retina, rather than on it.

If you are mildly farsighted, your eye care provider may not recommend corrective treatment at all. However, if you are moderately or severely hyperopic, you may have several treatment options available, including eyeglasses, contacts, LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Your eye care provider at Focused Eye Care will help you determine the best treatment option for you.

Lazy Eye (Amblyopia)

Lazy eye, medically known as amblyopia, is a loss or lack of development of vision, usually in one eye. This degenerative process usually begins with an inherited condition and appears during infancy or early childhood. Lazy eye needs to be diagnosed between birth and early school age since it is during this period that the brain “chooses” its visual pathway and may ignore the weaker eye permanently.

Lazy eye is not always easy to recognize since a child with worse vision in one eye does not necessarily have lazy eye. Because of this, it is recommended that all children, including those with no symptoms, have a comprehensive eye examination by the age of three and sooner if there is a family history of any eye condition or disease. If you suspect a problem, or need to set up your child’s first eye examination, contact Focused Eye Care to set up an appointment.

Nearsightedness (Myopia)

Nearsightedness, medically known as myopia, refers to vision that is good at close range but not at a distance. It generally occurs because the eyeball is too “long” as measured from front to back.

Myopia is becoming more prevalent, likely due to the ubiquity and use of mobile phones, electronic games, laptops and other smaller screens. This is very much the case among young people, whose eyes are forced to adjust while they are still developing. Good ways to slow the advance of myopia are to make sure your children limit their time with small screens, and also engage in plenty of outside activities, which encourage them to use their distance vision.

Myopia intervention should begin as early as possible, to slow progression, and is diagnosed during routine eye exams. Possible treatments include eyeglasses and contacts (especially for children). There are also several surgical options. Your Focused Eye Care doctor can consult with you to determine the best course of treatment.

Presbyopia (Aging Eyes)

Aging eyes, medically known as presbyopia, is a condition in which the lens of the eye gradually loses its flexibility, making it harder to focus clearly on close objects such as printed words. Distance vision, on the other hand, is usually not affected.

Unfortunately, presbyopia is an inevitable part of aging and cannot be prevented by diet, lifestyle or visual habits. However, it is treatable with several types of corrective lenses, including progressives, bifocals and trifocals, single-vision reading glasses, multifocal contact lenses and monovision therapy.

Crossed Eyes (Strabismus)

Cross-eyed, medically known as strabismus, refers to a condition in which eyes are misaligned. It commonly occurs when the muscles that control eye movement are not properly working together. The result is one or both eyes turning inward, outward, upward or downward, or one or both eyes moving irregularly.

Strabismus is usually diagnosed during childhood and affects about 4 percent of children, afflicting boys and girls equally. Though it cannot be prevented, its complications can be avoided with early intervention. Even if you notice symptoms intermittently – when your child is ill, stressed or fatigued – alert your eye care provider.