Departments

Department of Refractive Surgery

What are the refractive abnormalities?

Refractive abnormalities or ametropias are myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia.

Myopia presents either because the anterior surface of the eye (the cornea) is too curved or because the eye is too big in size or for both these reasons. The image is formed in front of the retina (fundus) of the eye. Vision is clouded when looking at a distance.

In hyperopia the eye is usually smaller. The image is formed behind the retina (fundus) of the eye. Vision is clouded for both near and far.

In astigmatism, the cornea curve is not smooth and as a result, the image appears clouded.

Presbyopia is considered a normal procedure of the eye which appears after the age of 40 and is attributed to the progressive deterioration of the focus for near vision. Consequently, corrective glasses are required.