Common Types Of Refractive Errors

Refractive errors happen when the shape of your eye keeps light from focusing correctly on your retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of your eye).

Common refractive errors include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Your eye doctor can diagnose your refractive error during a comprehensive eye exam. Additional info

Myopia

If you struggle to see far-away objects clearly, it might be due to myopia. This condition occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea, the clear covering of your eyes, is too curved.

Myopia can develop in children or adults and is usually inherited from one or both parents. It often progresses the most in childhood and adolescence, then levels out around age 20.

It can affect your visual acuity (how well you can read) and cause problems such as squinting blurry vision, and headaches. Wearing glasses or contact lenses can help correct myopia and improve your vision.

Treatment for myopia can include eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery, depending on the severity of your myopia. It's important to get regular eye exams to keep your prescription current and prevent other problems.

Hyperopia

Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is the most common type of refractive error. It occurs when light rays enter your eyes and aren't bent properly so they can focus on the retina (the layer of tissue in the back of your eye).

People with hyperopia see distance objects clearly but are unable to read close text or perform fine tasks with their hands. Some people can wear glasses or contact lenses to change the way light is reflected, but others must undergo refractive surgery to correct the problem.

Hyperopia can be detected through a comprehensive eye exam or by using a retinoscope, which shines a light into the eye to measure your prescription's strength. This can help your doctor pinpoint the correct amount of hyperopia to treat.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a type of refractive error that occurs when the front surface of your eye, known as the cornea, is misshapen. This abnormal shape causes light rays to refract and bend in a different direction than they would otherwise, creating blurry vision.

Most people are born with a tiny degree of astigmatism, but it can get worse over time. Your eye doctor will check for astigmatism during a regular eye exam.

In a healthy eye, the cornea and natural lens curve in a way that allows light to focus properly on the retina at the back of your eye. But sometimes, your cornea or lens has mismatched curvatures.

Your eye doctor will use several tools during your exam to test for astigmatism. These include an optical refractor with multiple corrective lenses of different strengths and a keratometer to measure the curvature of your cornea.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a natural, aging process that reduces the eye’s ability to focus on objects near or at arm’s length. It occurs over time and usually develops between the ages of 40 and 65.

In this condition, the lens in the eye becomes thicker and loses its elasticity. This means it’s difficult to see things up close without wearing glasses or contact lenses.

When this happens, it makes it difficult for people to read the small print in books and newspapers. It also causes headaches and eye fatigue after doing close work.

During your annual eye exam, your doctor can diagnose presbyopia and provide treatment options to improve your vision. These may include eyeglasses with progressive lenses, bifocals, or several types of eye surgery. More