Refractive Errors

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• Images

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Patient Handouts

Summary

The cornea and lens of your eye helps you focus. Refractive errors are vision problems that happen when the shape of the eye keeps you from focusing well. The cause could be the length of the eyeball (longer or shorter), changes in the shape of the cornea, or aging of the lens.

Four common refractive errors are

• Myopia, or nearsightedness - clear vision close up but blurry in the distance
• Hyperopia, or farsightedness - clear vision in the distance but blurry close up
• Presbyopia - inability to focus close up as a result of aging
• Astigmatism - focus problems caused by the cornea

The most common symptom is blurred vision. Other symptoms may include double vision, haziness, glare or halos around bright lights, squinting, headaches, or eye strain.

Glasses or contact lenses can usually correct refractive errors. Laser eye surgery may also be a possibility.

NIH: National Eye Institute

Start Here

• Facts about Astigmatism (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish
• Facts about Hyperopia (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish
• Facts about Myopia (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish
• Facts about Presbyopia (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish
• Facts about Refractive Errors (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish
• Refractive Errors (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Dilating Eye Drops (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) Also in Spanish
• Near Vision Test for Adults (Prevent Blindness America)
• Retinoscopy (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• What Is a Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exam? (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Cornea Transplant (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Eye Wear: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Laser Eye Surgery: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Phakic Intraocular Lenses (Food and Drug Administration)
• What Is Refractive Surgery? (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Abnormal Head Position (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) Also in Spanish
• What Are the Risks and How Can I Find the Right Doctor for Me? (Refractive Surgery) (Food and Drug Administration)

Specifics

• Astigmatism (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Facts about the Cornea and Corneal Disease (National Eye Institute)
• Farsightedness (Hyperopia) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Nearsightedness (Myopia) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Presbyopia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Genetics

• Genetics Home Reference: deafness and myopia syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
• Genetics Home Reference: isolated ectopia lentis (National Library of Medicine)

Images

• Corneal transplant - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Patient Eye Examinations - Adults (National Eye Institute)
• Presbyopia (Logical Images)

Statistics and Research

• Blurry Worldview: Understanding Myopia (National Institutes of Health)
• Hyperopia (National Eye Institute)
• Myopia (National Eye Institute)
• Myopia Increasing in the U.S. Population (National Eye Institute)
• Nearsightedness Linked to Years in School (American Academy of Ophthalmology)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Astigmatism (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hyperopia (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Lenses, Intraocular (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Myopia (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Presbyopia (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Refractive Errors (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Visual outcomes after balanced salt solution infiltration during lenticule separation...
• Article: Atropine 0.5% eyedrops for the treatment of children with low...
• Article: Anisometropia at Age 5 Years After Unilateral Intraocular Lens Implantation...
• Refractive Errors -- see more articles
• Astigmatism -- see more articles
• Farsightedness (hyperopia) -- see more articles
• Presbyopia -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Diagram of the Eye (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish
• Glossary of Terms (Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology)

Find an Expert

• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• American Optometric Association
• Find a Doctor - American Optometric Association (American Optometric Association)
• Find a Refractive (Eye) Surgeon (International Society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology)
• Finding an Eye Care Professional (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish
• National Eye Institute

Children

• Glasses and Contact Lenses (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Your Child's Vision (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Astigmatism (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Facts about Presbyopia (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish
• Farsightedness (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Nearsightedness (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Presbyopia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Refraction test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish