As the biggest provider of laser eye surger in Europe, Optical Express carries out consultations with many patients in need of treatment for near-sightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. These patients will often be curious as to what has caused their condition. To a large extent the answer is that it is genetic, but that is not the full story.
Hereditary factors of vision
- Is near sightedness hereditary?
- Is far sightedness hereditary?
- Is astigmatism hereditary?
Near sightedness, far sightedness and astigmatism are refractive problems that impair the ability of the eye to focus. They affect the curvature of the cornea. To refract incoming light so that it makes a sharply focused image on the retina, a healthy cornea has an even and smooth curve. In cases where the cornea has an abnormal curvature, it is unable to refract light to create a clear image.
A near-sighted person is one who’s cornea has too much of a curve, making it difficult to see objects at a distance. Conversely, farsightedness occurs in people with a cornea which has too little curve, making it difficult for them to see nearby objects. The blurry vision experienced by people with astigmatism occurs when the cornea or the lens has an oval shaped curve.
In some cases, these conditions which cause impairment to your vision are inherited and present from birth. Environmental factors, an eye injury or previous eye surgery are other factors which could create the changes which lead to these conditions.
Treatment Options
If you have been diagnosed with near-sightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, it is likely that you wear glasses or contact lenses to see clearly. These are the traditional solutions and they are effective, however a more permanent solution can be found in laser eye surgery.
Laser eye surgery corrects the shape of the cornea allowing it to refract light properly. The treatment is a short outpatient procedure with near immediate results. It's a simple procedure that takes anything from a matter of seconds to just a few minutes, depending upon the level of correction that's required, but you'll notice an improvement in your vision after laser eye surgery which is truly remarkable.
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