Refractive Errors: Understanding the Most Common Vision Problems

Refractive errors occur when the eye is unable to focus light accurately, resulting in blurred vision. This is often caused by an abnormality in the shape of the cornea and lens, which are the primary components of the eye responsible for focusing. The good news is that refractive errors can be corrected using glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.

The Four Most Common Refractive Errors

1. Myopia (Nearsightedness): Difficulty seeing distant objects clearly, often caused by an elongated eyeball or overly curved cornea.
2. Hyperopia (Farsightedness): Difficulty seeing objects up close, often caused by a shortened eyeball or under-curved cornea.
3. Astigmatism: Distorted vision caused by an irregularly curved cornea, resulting in multiple focal points within the eye.
4. Presbyopia: Age-related changes that make it difficult to see objects up close, often occurring in people over 40.

Understanding Myopia

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common refractive error that can be corrected using concave lenses. It often runs in families and is typically diagnosed during childhood. Myopia can worsen during school and adolescent years but often stabilizes around age 20.

Understanding Hyperopia

Hyperopia, or farsightedness, can occur at any age and is often corrected using convex lenses. Children may experience mild hyperopia, which can decrease with age and may not require correction by adolescence.

Understanding Astigmatism

Astigmatism is caused by an irregularly curved cornea, resulting in distorted vision. Cylindrical lenses are used to correct astigmatism, which can occur in combination with myopia or hyperopia.

Understanding Presbyopia

Presbyopia is an age-related refractive error that makes it difficult to see objects up close. It can be corrected using convex lenses, bifocals, or variable focal lenses.