Refractive Errors: A Comprehensive Overview of Eye Issues
August 9, 2024 • 6:17 PM
If you deal with vision issues, there’s a good chance it’s a refractive error. They’re the most common type of vision problem worldwide, and they’re caused by changes to the shape of your eye that warp how you perceive light.
This category of eye issues includes nearsightedness and farsightedness, astigmatism, and more. There are millions of people in the U.S. alone who wear glasses to correct these problems every day.
Today, we’re exploring the root causes of vision issues, how they’re treated, and the variety of refractive errors people might experience throughout their lives.
What Are the Types of Refractive Errors?
Your eyes refract light rays to help you see clearly. This happens because the natural curvature of your eyes bends light to create a clear, distinct image. Changes to the shape of your eye can cause issues with your ability to see clearly by distorting your normal refraction.
The primary forms of refractive errors are myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, and presbyopia. Let’s look at all four conditions in detail:
Myopia
Myopia, usually called nearsightedness, is one of the most common refractive errors. A nearsighted person can see objects clearly when they’re up close, but the condition makes faraway objects look blurry.
Nearsightedness develops because of changes in the shape of the cornea. When your eyeballs become too elongated or your corneas become too curved, your eyes can only focus clearly on nearby objects. That’s because your eyes have adjusted to the changes in their shape.
The most significant symptoms of myopia are trouble seeing distant objects and blurry vision. The condition can also make you prone to squinting, leading to eye strain and even headaches in the long run.
Many people with myopia find that the condition makes it tough to drive without help from glasses or contact lenses. It’s trouble seeing the road that often motivates people to seek eye care for nearsightedness.
Treatment for myopia usually looks like a pair of prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. Some folks opt for refractive surgery (LASIK) instead, which can reshape their corneas for a more permanent solution. Glasses are more accessible and affordable than LASIK, though, and many people find that a pair of specs works perfectly fine.
Hyperopia
While people with myopia can’t see faraway objects clearly, people with hyperopia have the opposite problem. Also known as farsightedness, hyperopia is caused by eyeballs that are too short or corneas that don’t have a sharp enough curve.
Farsightedness is usually genetic; some people deal with it from childhood on. If you have hyperopia, you may find that the most challenging tasks are reading, looking at a computer, or using your phone.Each of these activities uses your ability to see up close, which hyperopia weakens.
Treatment for hyperopia is usually as simple as a pair of glasses. LASIK and contacts are options, but glasses are a more straightforward way to balance out your vision and start seeing close-up objects more clearly.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism makes it hard to see clearly at any distance. This refractive issue develops when a person’s corneas have irregular shapes. It’s sometimes hereditary, which usually means the first signs appear at birth. However, complications from surgery can also cause astigmatism.
If you have astigmatism, you might notice vision problems sooner than someone with myopia or hyperopia. Consistent blurred vision is a telltale sign, as are chronic eye strain and headaches. In addition, astigmatism often makes it especially hard to see at night.
Glasses with specialized prescription lenses are the best and quickest solution for astigmatism. You can also order special contacts —either toric or rigid gas-permeable — but these can be more expensive prescriptions for serious cases of astigmatism.
Presbyopia
Aging of the lens can also cause refractive errors, as your lenses become less flexible over time. This can make it difficult to focus on small objects like print on paper or a screen.
That’s a sign of presbyopia, a refractive error that develops in middle and old age. The most prominent symptoms of presbyopia are trouble reading, eye strain, and headaches after looking at objects that are very close up.
Presbyopia is one of the main reasons older folks often wear reading glasses. Reading glasses have simple magnification, which makes it easier to see print without holding it at arm’s length. Bifocal or progressive lenses can also be helpful, as they correct near vision and distance vision.
How To Tell if You Have a Refractive Error
The main signs and common symptoms of refractive errors are trouble seeing up close, far away, or both. Blurred vision, headaches, eye strain, and squinting can also indicate that your eyes aren’t refracting light correctly.
However, the best way to get an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment is to talk to an eye care professional.
How Are Refractive Errors Diagnosed?
If you think you have a refractive error, talk to an optometrist or ophthalmologist. These eye health experts can give you a diagnosis and treatment plan with help from tried-and-true measures like a visual acuity test, slit-lamp exam, or refraction test.
A visual acuity test measures your eyes’ ability to see at certain distances. This test can help your eye doctor determine whether you’re nearsighted, farsighted, or both.
With the results from this test, they’ll move on to a refraction exam, which determines the right prescription for your eyes. Finally, a slit-lamp exam looks closely at the structure of your eyes to detect any issues in your cornea and other parts.
If you have kids and think that one of them may have a refractive error, early diagnosis and treatment can make a difference. Addressing refractive errors in childhood can stop them from progressing and causing other eye problems like amblyopia (lazy eye).
How Are Refractive Errors Treated?
Treatment for the most common types of refractive errors usually involves eyeglasses or contacts, followed by more intense options if needed.
If you have trouble seeing close objects, your eye doctor will prescribe lenses that compensate for this refraction error. The same goes for trouble seeing near objects or both. Single-vision, bifocal, and progressive lenses all provide different forms of vision correction, and your eye doctor will help you determine the type of lens you need.
Your ophthalmologist might recommend surgery in more severe cases, especially when degenerative eye conditions cause refractive errors. Surgery can be a life-changing option if your vision has degenerated to the point of making it hard to live life to the fullest.
Multiple surgery options exist to correct refractive errors, with LASIK being one of the most common. This procedure permanently changes the shape of the eye to correct vision. While it’s expensive, it can potentially make a difference in how well you see.
How To Manage Refractive Errors
Adjusting to changes in your vision can be tricky, but it’s far from impossible. Here are our tips for living well with refractive errors:
Get Regular Eye Examinations
Sadly, refractive errors are often degenerative conditions, which means they can get worse over time. The best way to compensate for ongoing changes to your vision is to see your eye doctor regularly.
Your optometrist will put you on an ideal schedule based on your needs, so it’s up to you to attend your appointments. We know how busy life gets, but it’s worth it to make time for a regular visit to the eye clinic.
Additionally, you might need more frequent appointments if you have a condition with higher risk factors for degeneration. Some eye diseases that cause refractive errors can drastically change your vision in a matter of months, so your eye doctor can let you know if you should come in for an exam more regularly.
Wear Glasses That You Love
There’s nothing worse than a pair of glasses that doesn’t look or feel right. In the same way, there’s nothing better than the perfect pair for you.
You can find exactly what you’re looking for from Pair, from timeless frames to modern, fashion-forward options. Plus, our magnetic Top Frames can upgrade your style and make improving your vision more fashionable than ever.
Look and Feel Your Best
Refractive errors are no fun, but after reading this guide, you’re ready to overcome them once and for all. Knowledge is the first step toward maintaining eye health, so remember to note any changes in your vision and go to an eye doctor for assistance.
And if you need glasses to correct a refractive error, Pair has you covered.
Sources:
What Is Presbyopia? | American Academy of Ophthalmology
Astigmatism - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic