| Phone |
| Murdoch (08) 9366 1655 |
| Subiaco (08) 9388 7773 |
| Country 1800 261 655 |
| Fax |
| (08) 9366 1764 |
| Email Us |
| Click Here |
| Address |
| St John of God Medical Clinic Suite 55, 100 Murdoch Drive Murdoch WA 6150 |
| SJOG Healthcare Subiaco Clinic Suite 318, 25 McCourt Street Subiaco WA 6008 |
Refractive Errors
The Normal Eye
Light from an object is focused by the cornea at the front of the eye and the lens inside the eye to a sharp point of focus on the retina at the back of the eye.
Refractive Errors
Patients in which the light is not accurately focused on the retina are said to have a REFRACTIVE ERROR.
There are 4 main types of refractive errors which produces a blurred image, resulting in the need for glasses or contact lenses.
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MYOPIA or Short Sightedness Light is focused in front of the retina |
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HYPEROPIA or Long Sightedness Light is focused behind the retina |
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ASTIGMATISM Light is not focused to a point but rather over a blurred distance in front or behind the retina. |
PRESBYOPIA (Need for Reading Glasses)
Light from near objects is focused behind the retina due to the natural aging process of the lens. This usually becomes noticeable from around 40 years of age. People who had previously normal vision find it increasingly harder to focus on near objects. Some people may be suitable for monovision, which is an alternative to reading glasses. Monovision involves laser refractive surgery to correct one eye for distance and one for near vision. Monovision is not suitable for everyone and therefore a trial using contact lenses can provide a good indication whether this is a suitable option for you.
EXCIMER LASER
The EXCIMER laser can reshape the corneal surface in suitable patients with myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism, to allow light to come to focus on or near the retinal surface. This improves distance vision. The laser does not correct presbyopia. Reading glasses will still be required in middle age.
