Refractive Errors

Refractive errors occur when the eye cannot focus light correctly onto the retina, leading to blurred vision. They are very common and can usually be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgical procedures like laser eye surgery or lens replacement.

Common Types of Refractive Errors:

1. Myopia (Short-Sightedness)
   • Description: Difficulty seeing distant objects clearly, while near vision is usually sharp.
   • Symptoms: Blurry distance vision, squinting, headaches.
   • Treatment Options: Glasses, contact lenses, LASIK/SMILE surgery, or lens replacement in some cases.
2. Hyperopia (Long-Sightedness)
   • Description: Difficulty seeing close objects clearly, while distance vision may be normal.
   • Symptoms: Eye strain, headaches, blurred near vision, fatigue when reading.
   • Treatment Options: Glasses, contact lenses, laser eye surgery, or lens replacement.
3. Astigmatism
   • Description: Irregular curvature of the cornea or lens causes distorted or blurred vision at all distances.
   • Symptoms: Blurred or stretched vision, headaches, eye strain.
   • Treatment Options: Glasses with cylindrical correction, toric contact lenses, toric IOLs in lens replacement, or laser eye surgery.
4. Presbyopia
   • Description: Age-related loss of near vision, typically occurring after age 40. The eye struggles to focus on close objects.
   • Symptoms: Needing to hold reading material further away, eye strain, headaches when reading.
   • Treatment Options: Reading glasses, multifocal or accommodating lenses in lens replacement surgery, or certain laser procedures.

Refractive Eye Errors

You may have a Refractive Eye Error if you experience any of the following:

• Blurry or hazy vision at near, far, or both
• Frequent squinting to see clearly
• Eye strain or discomfort
• Headaches after reading or screen use
• Difficulty seeing in low light or at night