Our eyes are one of our most important organs, and also the most complex organ in the body. Thanks to our eyes, we can see and observe the world and what is happening around us. For this reason, it is necessary to take good care of our eyes and take even the slightest discomfort seriously. While many eye problems have various symptoms, some have no symptoms at all. If people cannot understand these symptoms and diagnosis is delayed, there are disorders that can lead to complete vision loss. Therefore, it is beneficial to be knowledgeable about certain vision disorders.
According to the National Institute of Eye Health, the most common eye problems are refractive errors.
MYOPIA
This eye condition, characterized as nearsightedness, is a problem where distant objects appear blurry, while near objects are seen clearly. The eye has two parts, the cornea and the lens, which focus images. The cornea is the open part of the eye, and the lens is the transparent part. In a normally functioning eye, the cornea and lens have a smooth curvature. A cornea and lens with normal curvature refract the light entering the eye clearly and focus it on the retina at the back of the eye. However, if the surface of the cornea and lens is not smooth enough, the light entering the eye is not refracted properly, and refractive errors occur. Myopia usually occurs when the eyeball is longer than normal or the cornea is excessively curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly onto it. As a result, distant objects appear blurry.
HYPERMETROPIA
In contrast to myopia, hypermetropia is an eye condition that occurs when light rays entering the eye focus behind the retina. Unlike myopia, hypermetropia means that near objects cannot be seen clearly, while distant objects can be seen very clearly. Normally, light rays entering the eye are refracted in the outermost part of the eye, then pass through the pupil to the lens. The lens refracts them once more, creating an inverted image on the retina. In hyperopia, these rays, for various reasons, do not fall directly on the retina but focus further back. This causes the refractive error called hyperopia.
ASTIGMATISM
Astigmatism is an eye disorder resulting from the misalignment of the eye lens. When light rays enter the eye, they cannot be properly focused on the retina due to the misalignment of the lens. This results in an unclear image, causing blurred vision. This is part of the eye disorders known as refractive errors. This condition is usually congenital but can also develop later in life. It can be treated with glasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery.
PRESSBYOPIA
Presbyopia is a condition that prevents focusing on near objects, but it is mostly a result of aging. It usually begins in the 40s and is more advanced by the age of 65. The lens in our eye is a flexible structure that changes shape to allow us to see objects at different distances comfortably. This shape change is called accommodation. In a person, the eye lens begins to harden from around the age of 14. Therefore, if its ability to change shape decreases, vision problems begin to occur. Lenses have a structure that hardens continuously with age, and by age 65, they are completely rigid. The problems experienced as a result of presbyopia are actually the same as hyperopia. Light rays remain behind the retina, the focal point of the eye, resulting in difficulty seeing. The only difference is that in hyperopia, the eyeball is shorter than it should be, causing vision problems, while in presbyopia, vision problems occur as a result of the lens hardening and losing its flexibility due to age.
CATARACT
Various chemical changes occur in the crystalline proteins that make up the eye lens, located at the back of the iris, the colored part of the eye. As a result, protein-rich molecules are formed. These molecules cause foggy and blurry vision. These proteins increase over time, forming clusters, and these clusters eventually create a curtain that prevents light from entering the lens. The eye loses its transparency. As a result of this clustering, light does not disperse, and the image does not fall on the retina. To protect against cataracts, it is beneficial to keep diabetes under control (if you have it), avoid direct sunlight and protect yourself from sun exposure, and quit smoking.
Surgical procedures have been developed to correct eye lens problems. With advancements in technology in recent years, these surgical procedures are widely and successfully used.
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