American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) Practice Exam

What condition occurs when rays of light focus behind the retina?

1. Myopia

2. Hyperopia

3. Astigmatism

4. Presbyopia

The correct answer is: Hyperopia

The condition where rays of light focus behind the retina is known as hyperopia, often referred to as farsightedness. In hyperopia, the eye is either too short, or the cornea has too little curvature, which results in light entering the eye being focused behind the retina instead of directly on it. This leads to difficulty seeing nearby objects clearly, while distant objects may be seen more clearly. This phenomenon occurs because the eye's optical system does not adequately converge light before it reaches the retina, causing a blur in the image perceived for closer objects. Hyperopia can sometimes be corrected with convex lenses, which help to converge the light rays, allowing them to focus correctly on the retina. In contrast, myopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia have different underlying causes that affect how light is focused within the eye. Myopia involves the light focusing in front of the retina usually due to an elongated eye structure. Astigmatism arises from an irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, causing light to focus at different points, leading to distorted vision. Presbyopia, a condition related to aging, affects the ability to focus on close objects due to a loss of lens elasticity over time. Each of these conditions has its own