Our eyes are complex optical instruments that require all of the various components to function correctly for vision to be clear. According to our Marine Park eye specialist at Brook Plaza Ophthalmology light coming into the eye is focused on the light sensitive retina at the back of the eye in order to produce an image. If the light is focused directly on the retina the image is clear.
Unfortunately, many people do not see clearly at various distances because the light is not hitting directly onto the retina but focused either in front or behind the retina. According to our Marine Park eye specialist, the light rays coming into the eye have to be shrunk and curved to fit the curve of the retina. Many people have a refractory disorder called Myopia, more commonly known as nearsightedness. In a person that has myopia they have trouble seeing objects at a distance, the light is focused in front of the retina. The opposite is true for those people who have trouble seeing objects close to them, farsightedness, and the light is focused behind the retina. The degree of nearsightedness determines the patient’s ability to focus on distant objects. Some patients can focus on objects several yards away but those with severe nearsightedness can only see objects clearly that are a few inches away.
Our Marine Park eye specialist has several methods of improving the vision of a person with myopia. Eyeglasses are the most common method of vision correction along with contact lenses. The lenses in eyeglasses are curved and they will curve the light coming into the eye before it reaches the eye to focus it directly on the retina. Convex lenses that curve in slightly are generally used for nearsightedness because they push the focal point back towards the retina. Laser refractory surgery is also an option to relieve myopia. Call our office for a complete eye exam.
