What Are The 3 Most Common Eye Problems?

Your eyes are one of the most complicated and interesting parts of your body. They are able to refract light, allowing you to see. At least, that is what they do when they are working properly. Unfortunately, there is a large portion of the population in the United States that cannot see well or have eye problems. There are all sorts of different types of eye problems, however there are some eye problems that are more common than others. Luckily, with the right prescription glasses or contact lenses, most of these eye problems can be fixed.

The Most Common Eye Problems

In general, eye problems are extremely common. Almost everyone either wears glasses and contacts or knows someone who does. Due to the substantial number of people who have eye issues, there has been extensive research and findings about how to treat eye issues and some problems have recurred overtime.

Some of the most common eye problems fall under a category called refractive errors. Refractive errors are caused when the eye has difficulty processing light as it enters into the eye, causing the affected person to have a difficult time seeing. The three types of refractive errors include myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. 

With a prescription from your eye doctor, Wolcott Optical can help fix all three of these eye problems.

Myopia

Myopia, otherwise known as nearsightedness, is an eye condition in which a person can see objects that are right in front of them but cannot see faraway objects well. In most cases of myopia, people can make out objects that are far, but they are extremely blurry. Typically if a person deals with nearsightedness, then they have family members who also have myopia. Also, a person is not always born with myopia, it can develop overtime. Most of the time, myopia can be corrected and treated  with glasses or contact lenses.

Hyperopia

Hyperopia is another common eye issue caused by a refractive error. Hyperopia is another way to say farsightedness. Farsightedness is the word used to describe the condition in which a person can see objects that are far away but have a difficult time seeing objects that are close by. Hyperopia is most frequently diagnosed in adults. Squinting to see nearby objects is an indication that an individual may be experiencing hyperopia. Another potential sign that a person may be farsighted is that reading or looking at a computer screen for a long period of time will cause eye strain or a headache.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is another very common eye problem that is caused by an imperfection in the curvature of a part of the eye. The imperfection is typically located in the cornea or the lens. With astigmatism, the eye is unable to focus the light on a single point. Usually if a person is plagued with astigmatism, they will have issues seeing things that are far away from them and things that are close by. The world will appear very blurry or distorted. Astigmatism can be improved with the implementation of contact lenses or glasses.

Need Help Improving Your Vision?

After learning about the previous common vision problems, you may have found that you or somebody that you know has been affected by one of these problems. If this is the case, see your ophthalmologist or optometrist to obtain a prescription and let Wolcott Optical help you find the perfect pair of glasses to address your vision needs. We have been providing the highest quality eye care for many years and would be delighted to help you too. Reach out to us today.