Vision Conditions

Vision conditions, or refractive errors, consist of Hyperopia, Myopia, Astigmatism and Presbyopia. Below you will find information explaining each disorder along with a visual simulated photo.

-Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
In a hyperopic eye, the light rays do not converge or focus by the time they reach the retina. Hyperopic patients can focus on more distant objects, but not images that are close at hand. Non-surgical treatment options include glasses and contact lenses. Surgical treatment options include clear lens extraction, CK, LASIK, LTK, phakic IOL, and PRK. While there are numerous surgical options available, not all individuals are good candidates for specific procedures. Patients should review these options in depth with their physicians before making any final decisions.

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-Myopia (Nearsightedness)
In a myopic eye, the light rays are passed through the cornea and lens but the point at which they converge (focus) is in front of the retina, not on the retina. This configuration allows clear images of near objects but not those that are far away. Non-surgical treatment options for myopia include glasses and contact lenses. Surgical treatment options include clear lens extraction, LASIK, LASEK, phakic IOL and PRK. While there are numerous surgical options available, not all individuals are good candidates for specific procedures. Patients should review these options in depth with their physicians before making any final decisions.

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-Astigmatism
With astigmatism, the rays of light do not converge into a single point but form a line on the retina. There are various types of astigmatism including regular, mixed and irregular astigmatism. Currently, Excimer lasers in the US are approved for treatment of regular and mixed astigmatism. Recent advances in technology now allow for the therapeutic treatment of induced irregular astigmatism. In the future, this application may be expanded to include all types of irregular astigmatism. Patients who believe they have astigmatism should discuss this subject in further detail with their physician to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms in their case.

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-Presbyopia
Presbyopia affects people as they enter their 40s. Caused by changes within the eye's crystalline lens as one ages, presbyopia affects everyone, and eventually everyone will need to wear reading glasses or bifocals. Presbyopia is not affected by the laser treatment.

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