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Prevention and Treatment

of Common Eye Disorders Medical Corner

Dr. Lina Lin, O.D., practices primary care optometry in Los Angeles and is a
Tzu Chi volunteer and staff member.

Dr. Lina Lin, O.D.

ighty percent of what It is extremely important Farsightedness (hyperopia)
we do every day is that we know how to protect is when distant objects are
Eguided by our vision. If and care for our eyes so that seen clearly, but closer ones
we have problems with our they can age well with the appear blurry. Farsightedness
distance vision, it is hard to rest of our body. occurs if your eyeball is too
drive at night, and we feel short or the cornea has too
like something is “off.” Some little curvature, so that light
people even get dizzy or have headaches. entering your eye does not focus correctly.
When we have blurry near vision or tired, dry, Depending on the eye’s focusing ability,
watery eyes, we avoid reading. Therefore, it sometimes people cannot see clearly either
is extremely important that we know how to far or near. Symptoms may include eye strain,
protect and care for our eyes so that they can aching in or around the eyes, and a burning
age well with the rest of our body. This article sensation.
will discuss a few common eye problems and
their prevention and treatment.

Retina
BLURRY VISION Cornea
Pupil Image focused
behind the retina
There are several common causes for blurry vision: Lens
HYPEROPIA
Nearsightedness (myopia) is when closer (farsightedness)
objects are seen clearly, but those farther away
appear blurry. Nearsightedness occurs when Astigmatism is when
the eyeball is too long or the cornea—the the curvature of the cornea or the lens inside the
clear front cover of the eye—has too much eye is not round. An irregularly shaped cornea
curvature. As a result, the light entering the eye or lens prevents light from focusing properly on
is not focused correctly and distant objects look the retina, the light sensitive surface at the back
blurred. People suffering from nearsightedness of the eye. As a result, vision becomes blurred
may need to squint or move closer to see things at any distance. Eye strain, tilting the head
more clearly. toward one side or the other, squinting, blurry
vision, and headaches are common signs and
symptoms.

Retina
Image focused in
front of the retina
Cornea Retina
Pupil Cornea
Lens Pupil
MYOPIA Lens
(nearsightedness) Multiple focal points

All images courtesy of the National Eye Institute, NIH. ASTIGMATISM

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