Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
La Grande Family Eye Care
Menu
  • Home
  • New Patient Center
    • Online Forms
    • Insurance and Payments
  • About Us
    • Doctors & Staff
  • Eyecare Services
    • Eye and Vision Exams
    • Pediatric Eye Care
    • Contact Lens Exams
    • Glaucoma Treatment
    • Macular Degeneration
    • Myopia Control
    • Low Vision
    • Diabetic Eye Exams
    • Cataracts
    • Eye Surgery Co-management
    • Lasik Eye Surgery
    • Specialty Contact Lenses
    • Vision Therapy
    • Ortho-K
    • Computer Vision Treatment
    • Sports Vision
    • Sunglasses
  • Location
  • Online Bill Pay
  • Contact Us
    • Appointment Request
  • Testimonials
  • Frames
  • Blog
  • COVID-19 UPDATE

(541) 963-3788

Exclusive Offer

20% OFF

Any Second Pair of Glasses

  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Vision Problems >
  • High Order Aberrations

High Order Aberrations

  • Created in Vision Problems
man with drooped right eye

In an ideal world, everyone would have perfectly-shaped eyes. The reality, however, is that practically every eye has some form of aberration somewhere in it. These aberrations may or may not cause vision problems, but don't be too surprised if your eye doctor informs you that you are having difficulties due to some such imperfection. In addition to relatively straightforward vision problems such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, it is also possible to suffer higher order aberrations that distort images in a much more complex manner.

What Is an Aberration?

Any deviation from normal refraction of incoming light waves can be considered an aberration, even if that aberration is so minor that it causes no vision problems whatsoever. Any change in the shape, consistency, or functionality of any part of the eye can distort the way light is focused and turned into images by the eye. Nearsightedness and farsightedness involve a simple distortion of the eyeball's shape, while astigmatism usually involves a fairly simple distortion of the cornea. These conditions are thus easy to diagnose and correct.

Causes

Higher order aberrations can be caused by a number of factors. The thickened proteins that create cataracts, for instance, can interfere with proper refraction, as can a lack of tear film in people with chronically dry eyes. Corneal scarring from disease or injury, and irregularities in the lens or vitreous humor (the gelatinous substance inside the eye), can also cause higher order aberrations. These little imperfections in the eye can bend and shift the waveforms of incoming light in all sorts of ways. Eye doctors have learned to recognize these different types of distortion, assigning them such names as trefoil, quadrafoil, coma, defocus, and spherical aberration.

Treatment

Treatment for a higher order aberration involves either correcting the underlying cause, or compensating for the resulting vision problem. If your higher order aberration is the result of cataracts or dry eyes, for instance, your eye care professional can recommend treatments for these disorders that to dramatically improve your vision. The fitting of intraocular lens can resolve not only cataracts but other lens disorders as well.

If your eye's vitreous humor is contributing to the problem, vitrectomy or other procedures can address that issue. You may find that prescription eyewear or refractive laser surgeries such as LASIK can correct your vision adequately. Talk to your eye care professional about which treatments can help your higher order aberrations.

  • Common Eye Conditions
    • Changes in Appearance
    • Age-Related
    • Cognitive and Acquired
    • Vision Impairment
    • Injury & Irritation
    • Eye Lids
  • Contact Lenses
  • Eye Diseases
  • Eyeglasses
  • Eye Symptoms
  • How the Eyes Work
    • Basic Visual Skills
  • Pediatric Vision
  • Visual Rehabilitation
  • Vision Problems
  • What is Vision Therapy
  • Vision Therapy Programs
  • We Can Help With
    • Cataracts
    • Corneal Disorders
      • Disorders
    • Glaucoma
    • Refractive Disorders
    • Adult Strabismus
    • Retinal Disorders
  • Newsletters
    • Glasses & Frames
    • Medical Perspectives
    • Amazing, Interesting Eyes
    • Kid's Vision
    • Conditions That Affect Vision
    • Tips for Healthy Eyes
    • Contacts

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you.

Location

Find us on the map

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

7:30 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:30 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

  • Copyright © 2022 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map