Heterophoria意思

"Heterophoria" is a term used in ophthalmology and optometry to describe a condition where the eyes naturally tend to deviate or turn in a direction other than straight ahead. It is a type of binocular vision anomaly where the eyes are not perfectly aligned when they are in a resting state, but the deviation is not noticeable when looking straight ahead.

There are three main types of heterophoria:

  1. Esophoria: This occurs when one eye tends to turn inward.
  2. Exophoria: This occurs when one eye tends to turn outward.
  3. Hyperphoria: This occurs when one eye tends to turn upward.

Heterophoria is different from strabismus, which is a more severe condition where the eyes turn in a direction that is noticeable even when the person is looking straight ahead. In heterophoria, the eyes can turn to the correct position when the person focuses on an object or when they are consciously trying to look straight ahead.

People with heterophoria may experience symptoms such as headaches, eyestrain, blurred vision, or fatigue when reading or doing other activities that require sustained visual attention. They may also have difficulty with depth perception or with activities that require good binocular vision, such as sports that involve catching or aiming.

Heterophoria can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination, which may include tests to measure the alignment of the eyes and the strength of the eye muscles. Treatment typically involves the use of corrective lenses, vision therapy, or in some cases, surgery. The goal of treatment is to reduce the strain on the eyes and to improve the person's overall visual comfort and performance.