How Do You Spell ESOPHORIA?

Pronunciation: [ˌɛsəfˈɔːɹi͡ə] (IPA)

Esophoria is a medical term that describes a condition where a person's eyes turn inward, causing double vision. The spelling of this word might seem tricky, but it can be easily explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription. It is pronounced ɪˌsɑːˈfɔːrɪə, with stress on the second syllable. The "s" in the beginning is pronounced as ɪz, and the "ph" is pronounced as f. The "i" in the second syllable is pronounced as /aɪ/, and the "o" in the final syllable is pronounced as /ɔː/.

ESOPHORIA Meaning and Definition

1. Esophoria is a term used in ophthalmology and optometry to describe a condition characterized by the inward deviation of the eyes when focusing on a distant object. It is a type of heterophoria, which refers to a misalignment of the eyes at rest or during binocular vision. In esophoria, one or both eyes tend to turn inward, resulting in an excessive convergence effort to maintain single, clear vision.

   This ocular condition occurs due to an imbalance of eye muscles responsible for controlling the alignment and movement of the eyes. Normally, both eyes work together to fixate on an object, creating binocular vision and depth perception. However, if the muscles responsible for maintaining the eyes' parallel alignment are weaker or imbalanced, the eyes may drift inward, causing esophoria.

   The deviation in esophoria can be intermittent or constant, depending on the severity of the muscle imbalance. Individuals with esophoria may experience symptoms such as eye strain, fatigue, headaches, double vision, or blurred vision. Common causes of esophoria include genetics, abnormal development of eye muscles, or certain medical conditions like thyroid imbalance or neurological disorders.

   Esophoria can be diagnosed through comprehensive eye examinations, including a series of tests to evaluate the ocular muscle balance. Treatment options for esophoria depend on the severity and underlying cause but may include prescription glasses with prism lenses, vision therapy exercises to improve eye muscle control and coordination, or in some cases, surgical intervention to correct the muscle imbalance. Regular follow-up with an eye care professional is crucial to monitor and manage esophoria effectively.

2. A tendency of one eye to deviate inward; convergent squint.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for ESOPHORIA

• esopboria

Etymology of ESOPHORIA

The word "Esophoria" is of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek words "eso", meaning "inside" or "within", and "phoros", meaning "to bear" or "to carry". "Esophoria" essentially refers to a type of eye deviation where the eyes have a tendency to turn inward, creating a crossed or convergent appearance.

Plural form of ESOPHORIA is ESOPHORIAS