Problems Focusing
If you wear prescription lenses or contacts, you probably have one of the conditions we’ve listed below. All of these conditions are caused by problems with how the eye focuses an image on the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye. A large part of the eye’s ability to focus depends on the shape of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye.
Myopia
(nearsightedness)
When you have myopia, or nearsightedness, you can see near objects more clearly than distant objects. This happens when the eye is relatively too long, or when the corneal curvature is too steep. As a result, the image falls in front of the retina and you will see a blurred image.
Hyperopia
(farsightedness)
With hyperopia, or farsightedness, it’s near objects that are blurry. This occurs when the eye is relatively too short, or when the corneal curvature is too flat. The image you see is focused behind the eye and is blurred.
Astigmatism
(one or both eyes is shaped more like a football instead of round)
If you have astigmatism, everything is blurred, both near and far. This is because the cornea is oval instead of round, and has more than one focal point. The light rays from these focal points create a blurred image on the retina, causing blurred vision for both near and distant objects.
Presbyopia – Age-Related Need For Reading Glasses
Presbyopia happens to many of us when we reach our forties. The eye’s lens loses its natural ability to focus on close objects as we age. Over time, the lens continues to harden, making it more difficult to see objects within arms-length. It is usually corrected with reading glasses or bifocals.
How Can Treatment Help?
With laser eye surgery, your surgeon can reshape the contour of your cornea, making it possible for your eye to focus correctly. This means clearer, sharper vision and no more contact lenses or glasses!