Kelowna Laser Vision Physicians

Myopia, more commonly known as nearsightedness, occurs when an eye has too much focusing power. This means that the eyeball is either too long or the cornea is too steep, and the projected image falls short of the retina. The result is an improperly transmitted message to the brain or simply, a blurred image.

Hyperopia, or farsightedness, occurs when an eyeball is too short or the cornea’s curvature is too flat. The image that is being focused upon falls past the retina, in this case resulting in blurred or distorted vision.

People who wear glasses due to either myopia or hyperopia will often have some astigmatism as well. But astigmatism can also occur on its own and result in the need to wear glasses. An eye with astigmatism has an uneven surface and is shaped more like a football whereas a normal shaped eye is more spherical, like a basketball. Astigmatism results in having more than one focal point and blurred vision.

Presbyopia is a natural aging process that usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 50 and progresses after that. The lens of the eye hardens and cannot adjust to focus at near distances. When people who have perfect vision all their lives become presbyopic, they need to wear reading glasses. People who already wear glasses for distance vision need to wear bifocals.