Refractive medicine is a branch of ophthalmology that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of refractive errors, which are conditions that affect the ability of the eye to focus light properly onto the retina. Refractive errors can cause blurred vision and other visual symptoms.
Common refractive errors include:
- Myopia (nearsightedness): This is a condition in which close objects are clear but distant objects appear blurry.
- Hyperopia (farsightedness): This is a condition in which distant objects are clear but close objects appear blurry.
- Astigmatism: This is a condition in which the cornea or lens of the eye is irregularly shaped, causing blurred or distorted vision.
- Presbyopia: This is a condition that occurs with aging, in which the eye loses its ability to focus on close objects.
Refractive medicine includes a variety of treatments to correct these conditions, including:
- Glasses and contact lenses: These are non-surgical options that can correct refractive errors by changing the way light enters the eye.
- Refractive surgery: This includes procedures such as LASIK, PRK, and SMILE, which use lasers to reshape the cornea and correct refractive errors.
- Intraocular lenses: These are artificial lenses that can be implanted in the eye during cataract surgery or as a separate procedure to correct refractive errors.
- Corneal collagen cross-linking: This is a procedure that can strengthen the cornea and reduce the progression of keratoconus, a condition that causes the cornea to thin and bulge outwards.
Refractive medicine is a rapidly evolving field, with new treatments and technologies being developed to improve the safety and efficacy of refractive procedures. An ophthalmologist who specializes in refractive medicine can help determine the best treatment option for a patient based on their individual needs and preferences.