Other Conditions

1. What other conditions may affect my sight?

The most common forms of sight defects, Hypermetropia (long sight), Myopia (short sight), Astigmatism (non spherical eye shape) and Presbyopia (reduced reading vision) are all conditions readily corrected by the use of prescription spectacles. In rare cases of high degrees of Myopia, usually above -10.00D, there may be an increased risk of retinal detachment with subsequent damage to the retina and loss of visual field.

Nystagmus
A condition in which there is an uncontrolled movement or tremor of the eye, resulting in poor image fixation and a subsequent loss of visual acuity. The condition is quite common in albinism. There is no real cure and the use of visual aids may be appropriate.

Kerataconus
A condition in which the front of the eye, the cornea, becomes more and more conical in shape. The extent of damage is restricted to the cornea and the visual effects are commonly rapid increases in the power of the non-spherical component of the spectacle correction. It is common practice for Kerataconus sufferers to be treated with bandage contact lenses.

Cataract
A condition in which the crystalline lens within the eye becomes opaque. A common cause of blindness in the developing world, Cataract can usually be cured by means of a “simple” surgical procedure. The lens is removed by one of a number of methods and an artificial lens implanted in its place. Once settled the vision in the eye is restored to its original state, even with some reduction in spectacle correction if appropriate.

There are many other rare conditions that can affect vision as well as damage caused by trauma, neglect or inherited diseases. There is a selection of general information sites listed on the links page.