Refractive Errors

A refractive error is the most common eye problem. When the shape of the eye is abnormal, the eye doesn't bend (or refract) light properly, and so vision is blurred. These errors can be corrected after being prescribed glasses or contact lenses. Surgery might also be an option.

Follow the links below to find information about refractive errors.

Reviewed December 2011

14 Resources Found

Results 1 to 14 displayed.

Title:   Eyes - laser eye surgery
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Laser eye surgery or laser corneal sculpting is a medical procedure that uses a laser to reshape the surface of the eye. This is done to improve or correct myopia (short-sightedness), hypermetropia (long sightedness) and astigmatism (uneven curvature of the eye's surface). Some people who have laser eye surgery will still need to wear glasses or contact lenses, although their natural eyesight should be much improved.
Date:   Dec 2011
Title:   Interventions to slow progression of myopia in children
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Nearsightedness (myopia) causes blurry vision when looking at distant objects. Approximately 33% of the population in the United States is nearsighted, and some Asian countries report that up to 80% of children are nearsighted. Several studies have exam...
Date:   Oct 2011
Title:   Eye problems - long-sightedness
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Long-sightedness or hyperopia is a common condition that affects the ability to focus. Long-sightedness can cause vision problems, headaches and tiredness. Glasses, contact lenses and laser techniques are used to correct long-sightedness.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Eye disorders - focusing problems
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   The most common eye disorders are focusing problems, or 'refractive errors'. The main types of refractive errors are myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia or hypermetropia (long-sightedness), astigmatism and presbyopia. Glasses, contact lenses and laser surgery can be used to correct focusing problems. Most people have some refractive error or focusing problem.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Acupuncture for slowing the progression of myopia in children and adolescents
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Myopia, also called near-sightedness or short-sightedness, is one of the most commonly occurring eye problems in children and adolescents. Early detection and treatment of initial myopia is associated with better outcomes of visual improvement and corre...
Date:   Jul 2011
Title:   Headache and eye problems
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Common eye problems that can bring on headache include long-sightedness, astigmatism and hardening of the lens inside the eye. Many difficulties can be corrected with prescription glasses or contact lenses. Once the cause of eyestrain is treated, the associated headaches should ease.
Date:   Mar 2011
Title:   Contact lenses
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Contact lenses can be used instead of glasses to correct some vision problems. They work by helping to focus the light as it hits the back of the eye. Proper care of your contact lenses can help avoid lens and eye damage.
Date:   Feb 2010
Title:   Astigmatism - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Astigmatism is a condition where the front surface of the eye (the cornea) or the lens inside the eye is irregularly shaped and can cause blurred vision.
Date:   Nov 2009
Title:   Vision - short sightedness
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Myopia is commonly know as short-sightedness or near-sightedness. It means that the eye is unable to focus the light from objects that are far away, making them seem blurry.
Date:   Nov 2011
Title:   Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) versus laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for hyperopia correction
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Hyperopia (long-sightedness or far-sightedness) is the condition where the relaxed eye brings parallel light to a focus behind the retina instead of on it. In order to correct hyperopia a variety of surgical techniques can be applied including PRK and L...
Date:   Jan 2009
Title:   Vision - short sightedness
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Myopia is commonly know as short-sightedness or near-sightedness. It means that the eye is unable to focus the light from objects...
Date:   Nov 2011
Title:   Interventions for unilateral refractive amblyopia
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Patching treatment for amblyopia (lazy eye) caused by unequal optical errors in either eye when the (usually) worst eye can fail to develop optimum vision. Amblyopia is a condition where the vision of one (or more rarely both) eyes is reduced because th...
Date:   Jul 2008
Title:   Diabetes and your Eyesight
Publisher:   HealthInsite Topic Page
Description:   Links to information about how diabetes can affect your eyesight.
Date:   Dec 2006
Title:   LASIK: laser eye surgery - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   What does it really feel like to have LASIK laser eye surgery? Read Katie's story to find out.
Date:   Nov 2001

Results 1 to 14 displayed.