Eye Health:

Common Vision Problems

General Information	Contacts
How Your Eyes Work	Common Vision Problems
Eye Exam/Vision Testing	Common Eye Conditions
Corrective Lenses	Protecting Your Eyes
Glasses	Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of vision problems?

There are three common types of vision problems: nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Nearsightedness

Nearsightedness is also called myopia. People who are nearsighted can see fine up close, but things that are far away are blurry. One out of every four people in the U.S. is nearsighted. Nearsightedness may get worse when you're a teenager. People whose parents are nearsighted may be more likely to be nearsighted themselves.

What causes nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness is caused by the eyeball, lens, or cornea having an abnormal shape. If the eyeball is too long, then light is focused in front of the retina. This makes distant objects appear blurry.

"The cornea and lens bend (refract) incoming light rays so they focus in front of the retina." Source: National Eye Institute

Farsightedness

Farsightedness is also called hyperopia. People who are farsighted can see distant objects clearly, but thing up close are blurry. But some people with severe farsightedness have trouble seeing things up close and far away.

About one in every ten to twenty people are farsighted. You may become farsighted if your parents are farsighted.

What causes farsightedness?

Farsightedness is caused by the eyeball, lens, or cornea having an abnormal shape. If the eyeball is too short, then light is focused behind the retina. This makes close objects appear blurry.

"The cornea and lens bend (refract) incoming light rays so they focus behind the retina." Source: National Eye Institute

Astigmatism

People with astigmatism may see blurry or stretched out images. You may have mild astigmatism and not know it because it doesn't cause a noticeable change to your vision.

What causes astigmatism?

A normal eyeball is round, but the eyeball of a person with astigmatism is shaped like a football. This means light entering the eye doesn't reach the retina and creates a blurry image.

How do I fix my vision problem?

If you think you have a vision problem, see a doctor for a full eye exam. The doctor will test your vision during the exam and decide what type of vision problem you have. Then, your doctor will write you a prescription for corrective lenses, if you need them. Then it's time for you and your doctor to decide what type of corrective lenses is best for you: glasses or contacts.

Should I get glasses or contacts?

Deciding between glasses and contacts can be a difficult choice. Talk to your doctor and your parent(s)/guardian(s) about the pros and cons of each before making a decision. This guide will help you decide whether glasses or contacts are right for you.

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Written and reviewed by the CYWH Staff at Children's Hospital Boston

Updated: 11/19/2010