Understanding Common Vision Problems: Myopia, Hyperopia, and Astigmatism

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

Myopia occurs when the cornea and lens have too much refractive power, or when the eyeball is longer than normal from front to back, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This condition is typically corrected with the use of concave lenses, which help redirect the focus back onto the retina, allowing for clearer vision of distant objects.

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

Hyperopia is the opposite of myopia; it occurs when the cornea and lens have too little refractive power, or when the eyeball is shorter than normal, causing light to focus behind the retina. This condition is corrected using convex lenses. People with hyperopia often find it difficult to see nearby objects clearly and may experience eye strain when performing tasks that involve close-up vision. As people age, the difficulty in focusing on nearby objects tends to increase.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a condition where the cornea, the eye's outermost layer, is not perfectly round but instead has an irregular shape. This irregularity causes uneven refractive power across the eye, preventing light from focusing on a single point on the retina. As a result, vision may appear blurred or distorted at any distance, requiring corrective lenses that are specifically tailored to the unique curvature of the cornea.