Ametropia: Symptoms, Treatment, Degrees, Types, Diagnosis

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Ametropia

The content of the article:

1. Causes and risk factors
2. Forms of the disease
3. Disease stages
4. Symptoms
5. Diagnostics
6. Treatment
7. Possible complications and consequences
8. Forecast
9. Prevention

Ametropia is a violation of refraction of the eyeball, in which refracted light rays are focused not on the retina (as it should be normal), but behind or in front of it. As a result, a person sees the world around him fuzzy and blurry. This is a common ophthalmic pathology.

Forms of ametropia

Causes and risk factors

The disease can be either congenital or acquired. The causes of congenital ametropia are, presumably, unfavorable factors affecting the fetus during intrauterine development. These include:

• viral diseases of a pregnant woman (flu, chickenpox);
• ionizing radiation;
• smoking, drinking or using drugs during pregnancy;
• bad ecology.

The causes of acquired ametropia can be traumatic damage to the structures of the eye, inflammatory processes. But most often, acquired ametropia develops in connection with age-related changes in eye tissue or as a result of prolonged and frequent eye strain.

Forms of the disease

There are four forms of ametropia:

1. Myopia (myopia). Difficulties arise when examining objects at a distance, which is associated with the focusing of light rays not in the retina, but in front of it. Myopia is quite widespread among children and adolescents, which is associated with their violation of the rules of visual hygiene.
2. Hyperopia (farsightedness). The plane of focus is located behind the retina, as a result, closely spaced objects are not clearly perceived.
3. Astigmatism. Light rays traveling along different meridians are refracted with different strengths, due to which all objects are perceived indistinctly and with deformed contours.
4. Presbyopia (age-related hyperopia). It occurs in people over 40. It is associated with an age-related decrease in the elasticity of the lens, which is why it does not change the curvature in the required volume. As a result, visual acuity decreases, and this process progresses.

Disease stages

Depending on the number of diopters by which the refractive power of the eyeball must be reduced or increased in order to achieve correct focusing of the refracted light rays, myopia and hyperopia are divided into several degrees:

• weak - up to 3 diopters;
• medium - up to 6 diopters;
• strong - over 6 diopters.

The degrees of astigmatism are determined by other values:

• weak - up to 2 diopters;
• medium - up to 4 diopters;
• strong - over 4 diopters.

Symptoms

The main manifestations of ametropia are a decrease in visual acuity, a deterioration in its quality and clarity. It is these symptoms that cause patients to seek medical attention.

Decreased visual acuity and blurred vision are the main symptoms of ametropia

Diagnostics

To determine the degree of ametropia are used:

• skiascopy;
• refractometry;
• subjective measurement of ametropia.

Also, if necessary, a number of auxiliary techniques are used.

Treatment

Treatment for ametropia aims to restore the correct refraction of the eyeball. The most common way to correct vision is to wear glasses or contact lenses, but surgical treatment is also used:

• implantation of intraocular lenses;
• installation of an artificial lens;
• conductive keratoplasty;
• keratotomy.

Possible complications and consequences

In the absence of correction, ametropia can lead to the development of the following complications:

• amblyopia;
• strabismus;
• conjunctivitis;
• dystrophy of the retina of the eyes;
• retinal disinsertion.

Ametropia can lead to squint and other complications

Forecast

The prognosis for ametropia is generally favorable. Modern methods of correction make it possible to normalize existing disorders of visual function.

Prevention

To prevent the development or progression of ametropia, attention must be paid to vision hygiene. This concept includes:

• the correct mode of illumination of the workplace;
• inadmissibility of excessive visual stress;
• doing gymnastics for the eyes;
• regular examinations by an ophthalmologist;
• correction of existing visual impairments;
• training of the eye muscles responsible for the accommodation process.

To preserve vision, it is important to lead a correct lifestyle, play sports, eat a balanced diet and give up bad habits.

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Elena Minkina Doctor anesthesiologist-resuscitator About the author

Education: graduated from the Tashkent State Medical Institute, specializing in general medicine in 1991. Repeatedly passed refresher courses.

Work experience: anesthesiologist-resuscitator of the city maternity complex, resuscitator of the hemodialysis department.

The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!