Anisometropia

/ˌænɪsoʊˈmɛtroʊpiə/ noun

Definition

A condition of the eye where the two eyes have significantly different amounts of refractive error, meaning one eye is much more nearsighted or farsighted than the other.

Etymology

From Greek 'anisos' (unequal) + 'metron' (measure) + 'opia' (vision condition). The term emerged in 19th-century ophthalmology to describe this optical inequality between eyes.

Kelly Says

Your eyes might be 'mismatched' in power just like having one strong and one weak lens—this is why some people see much better out of one eye. The brain is surprisingly good at adapting to this, though it can affect depth perception and cause eye strain.

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