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Bedeutung und Möglichkeiten der Fehlsichtigkeitskorrektur

Refractive errors

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What are refractive errors?

A refractive error (ametropia) is the imbalance between the optical ability of the eye to focus light and the anatomical length dimensions. This is not normally due to disease, but is caused by natural standard variants. Refractive errors can be compensated completely by wearing corresponding glasses. A distinction is made between different types of refractive error.

The process of seeing

Different forms and colours are distinguished from each other because they reflect light in different ways. Complex interaction of tissue, muscles and nerves is necessary so that the forms and colours of our surroundings are assembled as an image in our brain.
The iris regulates the amount of incident light by dilating or constricting the pupil depending on the quantity of light present. Behind the pupil, the light rays directly strike the lens, which focuses the rays and projects a reduced image of the perceived surroundings onto the retina (focal point).

This information is converted into electrical pulses by the nerve cells of the retina and forwarded to the brain via the optic nerve. Only here is the information about brightness, contrast and colours assembled into an image.

Possibilities for correcting refractive errors

There are many different possibilities for correcting refractive errors. Your ophthalmologist will decide individually which is most suitable for you.

If you do not wish to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct your vision, refractive eye surgery offers the following possibilities, for example:

Cross-section of a healthy eye