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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

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.

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but the windows that frame our eyes are glasses. Glasses and other eyewear including contact lenses are used by all sorts of people. Some 40% of people in the United States need a form of vision correction. Glasses are an important invention and help many people around the world to be able to do what they want and need to do. But how do glasses work? Continue reading to learn the answer to that question and to learn more about how glasses impact our society.

Eyes Are Very Complex

The mystery of how glasses work is complicated by the mystery of how eyes work. The puzzle of how eyes work is less of a mystery today, but can still be difficult to understand from the outside looking in. The little black dot that is located in the middle of your eye that constricts and contracts as you look around is called the pupil. The pupil allows light to enter your eye and the light bounces off the back of the eye which is covered in an intricate web of nerves called the retina. A person with good vision will have pupils that allow light to focus squarely on the retina.

Inside The Eye

Within the eye, there are several systems that help a person see different things that they are looking at. These systems bring the light into the eye onto the retina and then minimizes the light and shapes it to the retina, creating an image. When light is unable to pass through the retina properly or cannot center on the retina, a person will have a vision problem. Glasses were created to help alleviate this issue.

how glasses work

How Do Glasses Work?

Now that it is clear how the eye works, how exactly do glasses work and help with vision issues. Well, because eyesight issues are the result of light not being able to reach the retina within the eye, glasses and other prescription eyewear are used to help the light travel better to the retina. Glasses do this by bending the light as it moves through the lenses of the glasses, allowing the light to enter through the pupil at just the right angle to reach the retina.

The Results Of Wearing Glasses

The result of a person wearing the right pair of glasses with the correct prescription is that that person will now have the ability to see clearly in the same way that a person with 20/20 vision can see. There are several different prescriptions that have been created for people with different kinds of eye conditions. Some of the most common forms of eye conditions include nearsightedness (also called myopia), farsightedness (also called hyperopia), and astigmatism.

Do You Need Glasses?

If you find that your eyesight is blurry or that you have a hard time seeing things that are close by or far away, you may be in need of glasses. We at Wolcott Optical are happy to help you figure out whether or not you need glasses or another form of protective eyewear. Through an eye examination, you should be able to decide whether glasses are for you.

Reach Out For More Information

Once you have determined that glasses would be a great addition to your life and could positively benefit you, we would be happy to help you find a pair of glasses that would also be a good fit. We are passionate about eye health and taking care of your vision, and with our experienced team, we are sure that you will find something to your liking. Reach out to us today for more information.

Glasses are an extremely important invention in the history of eye care. For many of us, without glasses, life would be much more difficult. Glasses allow for many individuals to read, drive, and easily see things near and far. But not only do glasses give many people a better ability to live their lives, but they have a fascinating history. To learn more about the history of glasses, continue reading.

history of glasses millcreek ut

The Early History Of Glasses

The history of glasses is a long and interesting story. Glasses have been around for quite a long time. According to some sources, it seems that the first pair of spectacles that were worn on the bridge of the nose were invented around 1290 by an inventor named Salvino D’Armate in Italy. However, there is evidence that points to the fact that glasses may have existed much earlier than the 13th century. Early eyeglasses were made of glass and wooden or leather frames. The glasses were held up the eyes or simply rested on the bridges of the nose. Later, in the Renaissance period, ribbons and string were used to fasten the glasses to the face. 

At some point, temples were added to the sides of glasses. Temples are the pieces of the glasses that extend past the ears. But the fastener behind the back of the ear was not invented until a bit later in the history of glasses. A British optician named Edward Scarlett seems to have invented the modern version of glasses around 1727. This modern vision included hooks that would attach to the back of the ear, keeping the glasses on the face. Another notable invention was Benjamin Franklin’s bifocals. Benjamin Franklin created the first bifocals (or as they were called at the time “double spectacles”) in order to correct both nearsightedness and farsightedness in the same pair of glasses.

Increasing Popularity Of Glasses

For many years, glasses were unavailable to the general public. After the invention of the bifocals, the prescriptions in glasses only continued to get better in the 19th century. With better forms of communication and these improvements in the functionality of glasses, glasses began to increase in popularity and started to become more commonplace. The Industrial Revolution made it possible for glasses to be more easily and efficiently produced, and in bulk. This also made glasses more affordable, opening up the world of eyeglasses to poorer populations.

Modern Glasses

In the late 1800’s rich men wore monocles and with World War 1 then went out of style with much of Europe. After WW1, glasses became much more commonplace meaning that they started to become a fashion statement. Men and women started wearing glasses of different shapes and sizes, colors and made of an assortment of materials.

With the development of plastics in the later 1900’s, horn, wood and metal frames became less common and soon lenses were also being made of plastics. This made glasses much more sturdy and durable. The mid-1900’s also saw the creation of sunglasses which led to better eye protection and more fashion statements being made. These days, glasses are found in almost every house. Glasses are used in all sorts of ways for fashion and for practicality. 

Do You Need A New Pair Of Glasses?

Here at Wolcott Optical, we are grateful for the history of glasses. We have made glasses our specialty and are happy to help you find the perfect pair of glasses for any occasion. If you have any questions regarding glasses or need an eye exam to see if you need a new prescription in your glasses, contact us today.

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Monday Closed
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday Closed

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Sept. 5 Closed
Sept. 7 Closed

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Salt Lake City's Best Award Winner 2021 Gold for Best Eyewear Shop by The Salt Lake Tribune