Anisometropia refers to a condition where your eyes have varying refractive powers. It’s one of the most common causes of amblyopia, also known as “lazy eyes.” Let your trusted eye specialist from Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care share things you need to know about this problem.
Root Cause and Risk Factors
Although the root cause behind anisometropia remains a gray area, having eyeballs of different sizes may lead to its development. Most of the time, this condition affects children, particularly those who are 6 to 18 years old. While it’s rare to have an identical visual measurement in both eyes, their difference is usually minimal, which is why the brain usually manages to compensate. In anisometropia, however, there are significant differences. The refractive power between your eyes is so great that it leaves your brain no option but to disregard visual signals from the weaker eye.
Major Types
According to your expert optometrist, anisometropia is generally classified into three types. The simple type happens when only one eye needs to wear a corrective lens while the other eye has no refractive errors. The compound kind, on the other hand, occurs when both eyes have the same refractive error, but at different degrees. Your left and right eyes, for example, may be nearsighted; however, the left eye may need a higher lens prescription. Lastly, the mixed sort develops when one eye is myopic (nearsighted) while the other is hyperopic (farsighted).
Typical Manifestations
With unequal vision measurements, you may be at a higher risk of acquiring binocular vision problems, such as lazy eyes or double vision. Some individuals may develop astigmatism as well. You may also experience frequent headaches, eye strain and light-headedness. Nausea, increased light sensitivity and dizziness are also common.
Management Options
It’s important to detect anisometropia as early as possible to prevent your brain from ignoring the weaker eye. This is why we emphasize the need for regular eye exams for you and your children. They can help us identify signs of this visual impairment, so we can provide immediate management. We may prescribe corrective lenses or check if you’re a good candidate for laser eye surgery. We can help correct underlying refractive errors to improve visual acuity.
If you have any further questions about anisometropia, call us at (301) 859-4060, or fill out our form. We serve Alexandria, VA, as well as various MD, areas including Potomac and Rockville.
