If you're finding it hard to see clearly, it may be time for a pair of eyeglasses. Eyeglasses correct refractive errors, which can occur when the eye is too long or too short from the back to the front. Visiting an ophthalmologist or optometrist as soon as you notice blurred or distorted vision can help you avoid eyestrain and headaches and can help you improve your performance at work or school.
Vision Problems Corrected by Eyeglasses
Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs if your eye is longer than it should be or if the curve of your cornea is too steep. The cornea is the clear tissue that covers your iris and pupil. The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that myopia may worsen during the teenage years when the body grows rapidly. Hyperopia, also called farsightedness, occurs when the eye is shorter than normal or if the corneal curvature is too flat. Astigmatism occurs when your cornea is uneven and curves on one side more than the other. It is possible to have astigmatism in combination with myopia or hyperopia.
Identification
Eyeglasses consist of two prescription lenses attached to a plastic or wire eyeglass frame. The type of lenses you will use depends on your vision problem. Concave lenses are used to compensate for the shape of your eye or cornea if you have myopia. If you are hyperopic, your doctor will prescribe a convex lens. Astigmatism is treated with a lens that is shaped like a cylinder. Eyeglass lenses are available in plastic and glass varieties. While glass lenses are more resistant to scratches, the Cleveland Clinic reports that plastic lenses don't break as easily as glass lenses and can be treated with a filter to keep out ultraviolet light.
Efffects on School and Work
Poor vision can affect your ability to perform well at school or work. The American Optometric Association reports that some children who are labeled as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, may actually have an untreated vision problem. Failing to see properly can result in a reduced attention span or in difficult understanding printed material.
Improving Sports Performance
It can be difficult to clearly see a ball or the positions of your teammates if you have vision problems. A child who consistently underperforms a certain skill in a sport, such as swinging late at a pitched ball in baseball, may have vision problems, according to the American Optometric Association. Correcting problems with eyeglasses can help improve sports performance.
Adapting to Aging
Eyeglasses can help you see clearly when your vision changes due to the aging process. Age causes the clear lens located behind your iris to become more rigid, impacting its ability to change its shape to alternately focus on far and near objects. This condition, called presbyopia, can be corrected by bifocals, glasses that provide separate areas of the lenses for near and far vision. If you are uncomfortable with the line between the two prescription areas in bifocals, your doctor may prescribe progressive lenses, a type of lenses that provide a gradual change between the two prescriptions. Trifocals are an option if you need three areas of correction on your lenses.
