[11] Refractive Errors Flashcards
What is a refractive error?
A problem with focusing light accurately onto the retina due to the shape of the eye
What is ametropia?
The global term for any refractive error
What are the different types of refractive errors?
- Myopia
- Hypermetropia
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia
- Ansiometropia
What is myopia also known as?
Short-sightedness
What is the problem in myopia?
Excessive optical power for axial length of eyeball, so focus image in front of retina
What can myopia be classified as?
- Mild
- Moderate
- Severe (high-degree)
What is hypermetropia also known as?
Far-sightedness
What is the problem in hypermetropia?
The eye has insufficient power for it’s refractive length, and therefore light from an object is focused behind the retina, giving rise to a blurred image
What is the problem in astigmatism?
Light does not focus evenly on the retina
What is the degree of astigmatism measured in?
Cylinders (cyl)
What is presbyopia?
Gradual loss of accommodative response
What is the problem in presbyopia?
Decline in elasticity of the lens
What is accommodation?
The process by which the eye adjusts its’ optical power to maintain a clear image of the object as its distance varies
What are the elements to accommodation?
- Eyes converge
- Pupil size reduces
- Lens changes shape and position
What is the timescale for presbyopia?
It is a lifelong process that is only clinically significant when reaches certain point
At what point does presbyopia become clinically significant?
When patient cannot carry out near-vision tasks such as reading
At what age does presbyopia most commonly occur?
After 40 years old
What is anisometropia?
When there is unequal refractive errors between both eyes
What level of difference is required to define as anisometropia?
Generally 2 diopters
Give an example of when anisometropia is mild with limited consequences
Different degrees of myopia in each eye
Give an example of when anisometropia can cause problerms
When there are large differences in childhood, especially if one eye is myopic and the other hypermetropic, may be associated with amblyopia
How important are uncorrected refractive errors as a worldwide issue?
Accounts for half of avoidance vision impairment globally
What is the purpose of the globe?
Receive light from the outside world and transmit it to the brain for processing into a visual image
What are the elements to the function of the globe?
- Image has to be correctly focused onto back of eye
- Information has to be converted to electrochemical signals and transmitted to the brain
What unit is refraction measured in?
Dioptres
What does the unit of dioptres describe?
The power that a structure has to focus parallel rays of light, i.e. bring them to a point
What does a higher value of dioptres mean?
The stronger the focusing ability
Where does focusing happening in the eye?
- Surface of the cornea (80%)
- Surface of lens
Where must the point of focus be in the eye for good vision?
The retina
What does the accuracy of refraction depend on?
- Curvature of cornea and lens
- Axial length of the eye (front to back)
What causes the factors affecting the accuracy of refraction to change?
The eye growing and ageing
What can myopia arise due to?
- Physiological variation in the length of the eye
- Excessively curved cornea
What does hypermetropia arise due to?
Low converging power of the eye lens because of weak action of ciliary muscles, or abnormal shape of the cornea
What does astigmatism arise due to?
Variations in the symmetry of the corneal and lens curvature (usually corneal)
How do variations in the symmetry of the cornea/lens curvature cause problems in astigmatism?
Light from a point in the visual fields has to focus at a single point on the retina. This is usually achieved by symmetry of the coeval and lens curvatures around their circumference. In astigmatism, variations in the symmetry results in rays failing to focus on a single point
When is anisometropia uncommon?
In adulthood