Lower-Order Aberrations
Millions of people in the United States have some sort of vision imperfection that results in less than perfect vision. Many patients suffer from lower-order aberrations that cause blurry vision when focusing on near or far objects. Lower-order aberrations include nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. An abnormally shaped cornea causes these vision imperfections. When the cornea is ideally shaped, light properly reflects off of the cornea and produces clear, crisp vision.
Nearsightedness
When patients have lower-order aberrations, or refractive errors such as nearsightedness, their vision can suffer. Patients that are nearsighted have difficulty seeing objects that are far away because the cornea is too steep. This causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of behind it.
Farsightedness
Farsightedness is an eye condition in which patients can focus on far away objects but cannot focus on near objects. Farsightedness results when a cornea is too flat, causing light to focus behind the retina.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism refers to an eye condition in which the cornea of the eye is too flat or too steep in some areas, resulting in vision that is blurry at all distances.
Lower-Order Aberration Treatments
Although most patients with lower-order aberrations treat the condition with glasses or eyeglasses, there are permanent vision correction options on the market. Laser vision correction procedures such as LASIK can treat patients that have irregularly shaped corneas. During treatment, the cornea is actually reshaped with a laser so light can properly reflect off of the retina.
Contact a Refractive Surgeon
If your vision is blurry because of an abnormally shaped cornea, you may be a suitable candidate for laser vision correction surgery. Contact a surgeon in your area to schedule a consultation and undergo a LASIK evaluation. Your doctor can determine if you are a good candidate for treatment.
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