MYOPIA (Nearsightedness)

Nearsightedness, or myopia is a vision condition in which people can see close objects clearly, but objects further away appear blurred. People with myopia can have difficulty clearly seeing a movie, TV screen or while driving. The tendency to develop myopia may be inherited, its development may be affected by how a person uses their eyes. Individuals who spend considerable time reading, working at a computer, or doing other intense close visual work may be more likely to develop myopia.

HYPEROPIA (Farsightedness)

Farsightedness, or hyperopia is a vision condition in which distant objects can be seen clearly, but close ones do not come into proper focus. In mild cases of farsightedness, your eyes may be able to compensate without corrective lenses. In other cases, glasses can be prescribed that alter the way the light enters your eyes, allowing you to clearly see close objects.

Common signs of hyperopia include difficulty concentrating and maintaining a clear focus on near objects, eye strain, fatigue and/or headaches after close work, aching or burning eyes, and irritability or nervousness after sustained concentration.

ASTIGMATISM

Astigmatism is a common vision condition that causes blurred vision. It occurs when the cornea (the clear front cover of the eye) is irregularly shaped or sometimes because of the curvature of the lens inside the eye. An irregularly shaped cornea or lens prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, the light-sensitive surface at the back of the eye. As a result, vision becomes blurred at any distance. This can lead to eye discomfort and headaches.

Astigmatism frequently occurs with other vision conditions like myopia and hyperopia. There are many causes to astigmatism. It can be hereditary and is usually present from birth. It can decrease or increase over time. Glasses can be prescribed that alter the way the light enters your eyes, allowing you to see clearly.

PRESBYOPIA

Presbyopia is a vision condition in which the crystalline lens inside the eye changes structure and flexibility over time. These changes make it difficult to focus on close objects.

Presbyopia usually becomes noticeable in the early to mid-40s. It is a natural part of the aging process of the eye. It is not a disease, and it cannot be prevented.

Some signs of presbyopia include holding reading materials at arm's length, blurred vision at normal reading distance and eye fatigue along with headaches when doing close work.

To help you compensate for presbyopia, your optometrist can prescribe reading glasses, multifocal glasses or contact lenses. Presbyopia can complicate other common vision conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. You may only need to wear your glasses for close work like reading, but you may find that wearing them all the time is more convenient and helpful. The effects of presbyopia will continue over your lifetime. Therefore, you may need to periodically change your eyewear to maintain clear and comfortable vision.