In elderly patients, refractive error shifts toward which astigmatism pattern?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $24.99Unlock all

Prepare for the NBEO Human Development Exam with comprehensive quizzes and detailed explanations. Sharpen your understanding with multiple choice questions designed to mimic the real test. Get ready to succeed!

Multiple Choice

In elderly patients, refractive error shifts toward which astigmatism pattern?

Explanation:
As people age, the way the cornea curves tends to change so that the horizontal meridian becomes relatively steeper than the vertical one. This flattening of the vertical meridian with age, along with other age-related changes in the cornea and eyelids, shifts the astigmatism pattern from the younger, typically vertical-steeper (with-the-rule) toward the horizontal-steeper pattern, which is called against-the-rule. In practical terms, elderly patients often end up with astigmatism where the steepest meridian is horizontal, so the refractive error shifts toward against-the-rule.

As people age, the way the cornea curves tends to change so that the horizontal meridian becomes relatively steeper than the vertical one. This flattening of the vertical meridian with age, along with other age-related changes in the cornea and eyelids, shifts the astigmatism pattern from the younger, typically vertical-steeper (with-the-rule) toward the horizontal-steeper pattern, which is called against-the-rule. In practical terms, elderly patients often end up with astigmatism where the steepest meridian is horizontal, so the refractive error shifts toward against-the-rule.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy