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Eye Defects

Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 5.2.14

Eye Defects

Both myopia and hyperopia can be treated using glasses fitted with lenses that refract light rays to allow the image to form on the retina. Contact lenses and laser eye surgery can also correct these issues.

Myopia (short-sightedness)

Myopia (short-sightedness)

  • Myopia happens when rays of light focus in front of the retina.
Hyperopia (long-sightedness)

Hyperopia (long-sightedness)

  • Hyperopia happens when rays of light focus behind the retina.

Test yourself on Eye Defects

  • Why can wearing glasses with the correct lenses correct myopia or hyperopia?

  • A person with hyperopia has light rays focusing behind their retina. What must corrective lenses do to fix this?

  • A person with myopia has light rays focusing in front of their retina. What must corrective lenses do to fix this?

  • Myopia causes light to focus in front of the retina, while hyperopia causes light to focus behind it. Why can glasses still correct both defects despite this difference?

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