Causes
Both of these conditions are caused by structural distortions within the eye.
Myopia
In myopia, your eyes focus the image ahead of the retina. This usually occurs with an eyeball that is longer or a cornea that is steeper than normal.
Hyperopia
In hyperopia, your eye focuses the image behind the retina. This usually occurs if your eyeball is too short or the cornea has too little curvature. With aging, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible and cannot focus as well on close objects. This condition, called presbyopia, accounts for the development of difficulty seeing near objects in most people after the age of 40.
Risk Factors
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Risk factors are slightly different for the two types of vision disorders.
Myopia
Having a family member with myopia increases your risk for the disorder. Also, although the evidence is conflicting, some specialists believe that chronic near work, such as iprolonged periods of reading or the daily use of a computer can increase the risk of developing myopia.
Hyperopia
There are two main risk factors for hyperopia:
- Age: 40 or older (hyperopia due to presbyopia )
- Family member with hyperopia
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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