What Are Refractive Errors?

Have you been told by your eye doctor that you have a “refractive error”? If so, it’s natural to wonder exactly what a refractive error is and what this means for your vision. Will you be able to wear contacts or glasses? What about LASIK eye surgery? Read on to learn more about refractive errors and how our eye doctor treats these common vision impairments.

May is "Healthy Vision Month": Do You Need an Eye Exam?

A refractive error is a vision problem that prevents your eyes from correctly focusing. If you have been told that you are nearsighted or farsighted, this means you have a refractive error. The most common refractive errors are myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (an age-related condition where it is harder to focus on close-up objects) and astigmatism (images appear blurry and stretched out).

Blurred vision is the most common symptom of a refractive error. Additional symptoms include haziness, double vision, eyestrain, and a “glowing” halo around lights. If you frequently have headaches after reading a book or working on the computer, you could be squinting to better focus your vision because of a refractive error.

Eyeglasses and contact lenses are the most common treatments for refractive errors. Our eye doctor will prescribe appropriate lenses that correct the refractive error and optimize your vision. While many of our patients prefer to wear contact lenses rather than glasses, both contact lenses and glasses are suitable options for correcting refractive errors. The choice is entirely up to you!

LASIK surgery may be an effective alternative to glasses or contacts. Depending on the severity of your refractive error, LASIK surgery may be a suitable alternative to glasses or contact lenses. LASIK surgery permanently changes the shape of the cornea, improving your eye’s ability to focus light ray precisely on the retina. LASIK is just one type of refractive surgery. Depending on the type and severity of your refractive errors, you may be a good candidate for LASIK or another surgery. Talk to our eye doctors about your different treatment options.

Do you have any questions about Refractive Errors? Contact our eye doctor today to learn more!