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A refractive error is one of the most common reasons for an eye doctor to prescribe glasses for a person. With a refractive error, the eye can’t focus light properly on the retina. Depending on the refractive error, this can cause blurry vision when looking at objects up close, far away, or at any distance.

Common refractive errors include: * Nearsightedness (myopia) * Farsightedness (hyperopia) * Astigmatism * Presbyopia (age-related loss of focusing ability)

What’s the Difference Between Nearsightedness and Farsightedness?

If you’re nearsighted, you can see close-up objects clearly while objects far away are blurry. If you’re farsighted, you can clearly see distant objects while closer objects appear blurry.

Both nearsightedness and farsightedness have similar symptoms, including:

  • Having to squint to help your eyes focus
  • Experiencing eye strain
  • Getting headaches
  • Having the feeling of tired eyes

A comprehensive eye exam with your eye doctor will include a vision test. If you have trouble seeing clearly at any distance, you may be a good candidate for corrective eyewear.

What Is Astigmatism?

With astigmatism, your vision is blurry whether you’re looking at something up close or far away. Some other symptoms of astigmatism are:

  • Needing to squint to see clearly at any distance
  • Having trouble seeing at night
  • Seeing double even when closing one eye
  • Struggling with depth perception
  • Experiencing headaches and eye strain

What Is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is an age-related vision issue that makes it hard to see clearly up close. It’s a normal part of aging that most people start to experience around age 40.

You may have presbyopia if you:

  • Have a hard time reading small print
  • Feel tired after looking at things up close
  • Need to squint to see objects at reading distance more clearly
  • Need brighter light for reading and close-up tasks
  • Have trouble seeing and focusing on objects close to you
  • Experience eye strain or headaches after reading or doing close-up work

The best way to know if you need glasses is to see your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam. If you do need eyeglasses, Eyebuydirect has plenty of cool and affordable frames to fit any style and budget.

SOURCES
1. Vision Impact Institute releases study on corrective lens wearers in the U.S.. Essilor of America. Accessed June 2023.
2. How to tell if you need glasses . Vision Center. Accessed June 2023.
3. What is night blindness?. All About Vision. January 2021.
4. Double vision (diplopia): Causes, symptoms & treatment. Vision Center. Accessed June 2023.
5. What causes halos around lights? All About Vision. June 2021.
6. Refractive errors and refraction: How the eye sees. All About Vision. October 2019.
7. Myopia vs. hyperopia: What’s the difference? All About Vision. July 2022.
8. Astigmatism. All About Vision. February 2019.
9. Presbyopia: What causes it and how to treat it. All About Vision. February 2019.
10. Presbyopia. Healthline. January 2021.
11. Presbyopia. Mayo Clinic. November 2021.

Michael Chang

In the EBD Blog