Hypoesophoria is a medical term that relates to a condition of having lower-than-normal eye alignment. The spelling of this word can be broken down using IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), with "hypo" pronounced as "haɪpoʊ" and meaning "less than normal". "Esophoria" is pronounced "esə'fɔriə" and refers to the inward turning of the eyes. The combination of these two phonemes create the spelling of "hypoesophoria", which indicates an alignment issue that may require medical attention.
Hypoesophoria is a term used in the field of optometry and refers to an eye condition characterized by a reduced inward turning of one or both eyes when focusing on a close object. It is a type of horizontal binocular imbalance where there is a tendency of the eyes to diverge or point outwardly, rather than converging or pointing inwardly during near vision tasks.
People with hypoesophoria may experience symptoms such as eye strain, blurred vision, headaches, and difficulties with maintaining clear and single vision when reading or performing close work. This condition can be congenital, meaning it is present from birth, or acquired due to certain factors like trauma, muscle weakness, or aging.
To diagnose hypoesophoria, optometrists typically perform a comprehensive eye examination, which may include assessing visual acuity, checking eye alignment, measuring eye movements, and conducting tests to evaluate binocular vision. Treatment options for hypoesophoria may involve the use of prism glasses or vision therapy exercises to help improve eye coordination and alignment. Prism glasses are designed to correct the deviation in eye alignment, while vision therapy aims to train and strengthen the eye muscles to achieve better binocular vision.
Early detection and appropriate management of hypoesophoria are important to prevent any long-term visual discomfort and problems. Regular eye examinations are recommended for individuals with suspected or diagnosed hypoesophoria to monitor and manage the condition effectively.
Combined downward and inward deviation of the eyeball.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "hypoesophoria" is derived from Greek roots. "Hypo-" means "under" or "below", "eso-" means "inward" or "toward the nose", and "-phoria" refers to a tendency or inclination. Therefore, "hypoesophoria" can be broken down as "hypo" (under) + "eso" (inward) + "phoria" (tendency), meaning a tendency or inclination for the eyes to be slightly turned outward or away from the nose.