KEEPING AN
EYE ON VISION
Problems with focusing, also called
refractive errors, are the most common
eye disorders.
IN FOCUS
When you have perfect vision any object
you look at will be focused onto the
retina in the same way a camera has
to be focused properly to take a clear
picture. If the image isn’t focused exactly
on the retina, the image will be blurred
and it’s a sign you could have myopia,
hyperopia, presbyopia or astigmatism
- usually corrected with prescription
glasses and contact lenses and, in some
cases, laser eye surgery.
WHEN YOU’RE SHORT-SIGHTED
Myopia, or short-sightedness, is a
common condition where distant
objects are blurred. Usually it begins in
the teenage years or early 20s but it can
happen any time from birth. Look for
clues like:
»Squinting to see more clearly in
the distance
»Sitting close to the television
»Holding books up close.WHEN YOU’RE LONG-SIGHTED
Hyperopia, or long-sightedness, is
a condition where you might have
reasonable vision in the distance but
find your vision is blurred (or you have
eyestrain or headaches) when doing
close work like reading.
Look for clues like:
»Blurred vision especially when
looking at close objects
»Eye fatigue or headaches after
a long period of close-up work
»Difficulty reading.ASTIGMATISM
Astigmatism is a
condition that distorts
your vision, causing
blurring at all distances
and especially at
night. Normally
the surface of your
cornea is rounded
like the shape of
a soccer ball. If the
curvature of the corneaMyopia , or short-sightedness,
is a common condition
is not the same in all directions, it will
bend the light passing through it by
different amounts. Most people who
wear glasses have some degree
of astigmatism.
Look for clues like:
»Images appear distorted or double
»Certain letters may be more difficult
to read than others
»You get headaches or feel tired from
the effort of trying to focus
»You lack concentration
»Driving at night is difficult.PRESBYOPIA
Presbyopia is a gradual reduction in
the eye’s ability to change its focus
because of a loss of flexibility in
the eye’s lens. A natural part of
ageing, it generally begins around
age 45. Look for clues like:
»Needing to hold newspapers,
books and mobile phones further
away to see them clearly
»Having difficulty
concentrating when reading
or sore eyes, headaches
and tiredness after doing
close work.