Emmetropia & Ametropia Flashcards
What is emmetropia?
- Conjugate focus of the retina is at infinity, with accommodation relaxed.
Emmetropia @ distance?
- Distance objects are focused sharply on
the photoreceptor plane of the retina
Emmetropic eye @ near?
When a near object is viewed
– image is in focus behind the photoreceptors
– image can be brought forward into focus on
the photoreceptors by the process of
accommodation
What is Emmetropia Rx?
Generally -0.25 to +0.75 DS
What is Ammetropia?
Eyes inability to correctly focus the image of objects on the retina.
- includes: myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism
- failure of emmetropisation.
What is myopia?
– Generally, eye has grown too long for the remaining refractive components
– Image cannot be brought into focus by
accommodation, lens is too strong
– Distant objects are focused in front of the retina.
Myopia @ near objects?
– closer objects can be brought into focus by accommodation
How to correct for Myopia?
– concave (diverging) spectacle, contact or intraocular lenses
– move the image onto the retina
– OR refractive surgery to reduce corneal power
What is Myopia Rx?
- Generally ≤ -0.50 DS
What is Hypermetropia/ Hyperopia?
- Generally, eye is too short
- Distant objects are focused behind the photoreceptors when accommodation is relaxed
- -> focusing power of the lens is ‘too weak’
Myopia @ distance?
Distant objects:
– are focused in front of the retina.
– blurred & near vision is clearer
(= shortsighted)
How do hyperopes focus distant objects?
– brought into focus by accommodation
ie. distance vision can be clear if degree of hyperopia is less than accommodative
amplitude
–> latent hyperopes
What can Myopes see?
i) Near vision is clear
ii) Distance vision is uniformly blurred
Vision in Px with astigmatism ?
Blurry
How to correct Hyperopia?
- positive/ convex lenses
may not be full correction
What is Hyperopia Rx?
Generally ≥ +0.75
Define latent hyperopia?
- accommodative amplitude > degree of hyperopia
- farsightedness that is ‘masked’ when the accommodative muscle are used to increase eye’s focusing power
- therefore appear to have distant vision
- don’t require a corrective lens
Complaints made by latent hyperopes?
- tired eyes
- headaches
How to uncover a latent hyperope?
- if Px VA < 6/4.8, assume they are either plano or latent.
- start with +1 blur. allow time for accommodation to relax
How do hyperopes focus near objects?
- At near, diverging light is entering the eyes
- more + power required to focus light on the retina
- prescribe reading glasses
What is Astigmatism?
- curvature of the cornea or lens are NOT the same in all merdians
What happens with astigmatism?
- light will bend in all different directions
- different amounts of light will pass through falling on the retina
Consequences of Astigmatism?
- some direction of image more focussed or out of focus than others
- image is double/ distorted
- letters difficult to distinguish
What might a Px with astigmatism do?
squint eyes
- allows temporary distortion of the cornea for focus