Why Can’t I See?
What Causes Poor Vision?
There are many conditions that can contribute to poor vision. Below we have outlined the primary conditions that cause less than perfect vision, along with some information about these conditions and recommended treatments. Offering the latest advancements in opthamology, the UC San Diego Shiley Eye Center specializes in laser eye surgery for vision correction.
What is Best for Me?
If you want to improve your vision, get help from the refractive surgeons at the UC San Diego Shiley Eye Center. Request a LASIK consultation online or call the office at (858) 822-2566.
Eye Conditions
Myopia (Nearsightedness):
People with this condition are able to see close objects clearly, but have trouble viewing objects that are farther away and often appear blurry. Nearsightedness is caused by light entering the eye being focused incorrectly, usually because the cornea (the covering over the front of the eye) is excessively curved or the eyeball itself is too long.
Myopia is estimated to affect nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population, making it one of the most common eye problems. Visual stress (particularly eye strain caused by reading or other up-close viewing) and genetic inheritance are believed to be the primary causes of this condition.
Corrective Treatment:
Both San Diego LASIK and PRK can be used to treat myopia.
Hyperopia (Farsightedness):
This condition, as the name suggests, allows clear distance vision but nearby objects do not properly come into focus. A cornea that is too flat or an eyeball that is too short may cause the light from closer objects entering the eye not to focus correctly.
Blurriness or difficulty focusing on nearby objects is a common sign of this condition. Also, many people with farsightedness experience eye strain, aching or burning eyes, and headaches when reading or trying to focus on close-by objects.
Corrective Treatment:
Both LASIK and PRK can be used to treat hyperopia.
Astigmatism:
This very common condition causes blurry vision, and may accompany either farsightedness or nearsightedness. Astigmatism is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea or, in some cases, improper curvature of the lens inside the eye. Vision becomes blurred at any distance due to light not focusing correctly on the retina.
Astigmatism is mostly hereditary, but this refractive error also may result from an eye injury, certain types of eye surgery, or from keratoconus (see below). Slight astigmatism may not be noticeable, but larger amounts can cause blurred vision along with headaches and eye discomfort.
Corrective Treatment:
Both LASIK and PRK can be used to treat astigmatism.
Cataracts:
The lens of the eye is normally clear, but can become cloudy or opaque. When this occurs, it is known as a cataract. The effect a cataract has on a person’s vision depends on both the size and position of the cataract, but can include noticeable blurring, dimming and fading of colors, decreased night vision, and sensitivity to bright light. Usually, cataracts develop in people over age 55, and will be present in both eyes.
The lens is the part of the eye that focuses light on the retina, a light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. Clouding of the lens occurs due to changes in the proteins and lens fibers that comprise this part of the eye. A cataract may develop in any of the 3 layers of the lens (known as nuclear, cortical, or posterior capsule cataracts).
Corrective Treatment:
We perform cataract surgery in San Diego to remove the clouded lens and replace it with a small, artificial IOL.
Keratoconus:
This disorder causes a gradual thinning of the cornea. The cornea actually becomes cone-shaped, distorting and blurring vision because light entering the eye is improperly focused on the retina. People with keratoconus also tend to experience increased sensitivity to glare and light.
Initial symptoms are often first noticed when people are in their late teen years or mid to late 20s. Over time, as thinning of the cornea progresses, vision becomes increasingly distorted.
Corrective Treatment:
Because thinning of the cornea will continue with this disorder, treatment with Intacs™ Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments (ICRS) allows for reshaping of the cornea from within.
