“Your vision is too important to take for granted, as it has an astonishing impact on your quality of life.”
Refractive Errors
Myopia (Nearsightedness) is a vision condition where close-up objects look clear but distant objects appear blurry. The light entering the eye is focused before reaching the retina and this occurs if the eyeball is too long or the cornea at the front of the eye is too steeply curved.
Hyperopia (Farsightedness) is a refractive error where persons generally see clearly at far but near objects are blurry. However some persons may not notice any problems with their vision, especially when they are younger while others with severe farsightedness, the vision can be blurry at both distance and near. Farsightedness occurs when the light entering the eye is aimed behind the retina due to the eyeball being shorter than normal or the cornea at the front of the eye may be too flat.
Astigmatism is a refractive error that can make your vision blurry or distorted. It can occur when your cornea (the clear layer at the front of your eye) or lens (the inner part of your eye that helps the eye focus) has a different shape than normal. Normal eyes are round, like a ball but in astigmatism, the eye is shaped like an American football or the back of a spoon so when light enters the eye, it bends unevenly causing blurred vision at all distances.
Presbyopia is considered a normal stage of the aging process. It gradually develops overtime, starting at the age of 40. Presbyopia is the loss of ability of the eyes to focus on near objects. It occurs due to the hardening and thickening of the natural lens in the eye which causes it to lose its flexibility. As presbyopia begin to develop, you will notice that you’ll need to hold books or objects further from the eyes to see clearly. Persons who are presbyopic will be prescribed either readers, bifocals or progressive glasses. For information on these type of glasses click here.