Whether you only need glasses to help you read or you wear corrective lenses regularly so you can see properly, you know that certain conditions cause vision issues. But poor eyesight doesn’t just happen—it’s caused by several kinds of eye conditions.
Below, we’ll discuss these eye issues so you know exactly what they are and why they cause poor vision. We’ll also provide you with a list of symptoms of each condition so you know if you are at risk for developing the issue.
1. Myopia
More commonly known as nearsightedness, the term “myopia” refers to a condition where a person can see objects clearly up close, but faraway objects appear blurry. This condition occurs when your eyeball is too long for your cornea and lens. Your cornea and lens may also be too curved for your eyeball’s length.
These deformities in your eye cause light rays to focus directly in front of your retina rather than directly on its surface.
Myopia is fairly common, affecting about 30% of the population.
It can also be inherited. However, most often, the condition usually develops depending on how an individual uses his or her eyes. In fact, people who spend large amounts of time doing the following are more at risk for developing nearsightedness:
- Working at a computer
- Working on detailed tasks
- Reading
Essentially, any task that requires you to look up close and focus for long periods of time could cause you to develop myopia.
If you suffer from nearsightedness, you’ll notice symptoms like blurry vision at a distance, headaches, and eye strain.
2. Hyperopia
Also called farsightedness, hyperopia is the opposite of myopia. Individuals who suffer from hyperopia can clearly see objects, but close-up objects appear blurry or fuzzy. Farsightedness also occurs because of curvature issues in the eye’s retina, cornea, and lens. Additionally, the eyeball’s length may be too short relative to the lens and cornea.
For farsightedness to occur, the cornea and lens curve in such a way that light rays focus behind your retina instead of on it. As a result, objects close to you appear blurry while distant objects seem crystal clear.
This condition is also common in adults, though some children are born farsighted. While some children outgrow this vision issue, others don’t.
If you are farsighted, you’ll experience symptoms such as headaches, blurry vision, and eye strain.
3. Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a form of farsightedness that occurs naturally as you age. You may notice symptoms once you turn 40. Symptoms of this condition are the same as for hyperopia, but you will also have a harder time focusing on close-up objects.
This inability to focus results from the hardening of the lens inside your eye rather than from issues with the retina. Most often, reading glasses can treat the condition.
4. Astigmatism
Astigmatism is another refractive error that people can suffer from. Usually, this condition results from irregularly shaped corneas. If you have astigmatism, light rays won’t come to a single focus point on your retina. So no matter how close or far away an item is, you can’t see it clearly. Aside from blurred vision, you may also experience headaches and dry or burning eyes.
5. Glaucoma
According to the American Optometric Association, this condition is the second leading cause of blindness in the US.
Glaucoma is a condition where the fluid in your eye can’t drain normally. This fluid builds up, increasing the pressure in your eye. The fluid can build up to such high levels that it can pinch or damage the optic nerve. As a result, you can’t see as clearly, and you could go blind without the proper treatment.
Two kinds of glaucoma exist: angle-closure and open-angle. With angle-closure glaucoma, the drainage canals in your eye are completely blocked. The pressure in your eye will rise suddenly. This is a rarer form of glaucoma and must be treated immediately.
Open-angle glaucoma is more common, but it can be just as dangerous as other forms. If you suffer from open-angle glaucoma, your optic nerve becomes damaged slowly and painlessly. This slow development puts you at risk for losing large portions of your vision.
Symptoms of glaucoma include blurry or hazy vision, eye pain, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and sight loss.
How Your Eye Doctor Can Help
If you show any of the symptoms listed for the conditions mentioned above, contact your optometrist as soon as possible. Your eye doctor will examine your eyes at your next appointment and check for any of these conditions. If necessary, he or she will prescribe you with corrective lenses to improve your vision.
For more information, or if you have other questions about how these conditions affect your vision, don’t hesitate to ask your eye doctor. He or she can provide you with the information you need, as well as prevention tips so you can preserve your eyesight for as long as possible.