Refractive Conditions (Astigmatism, Farsightedness, Nearsightedness, Presbyopia) in Napa, CA

At Eye Specialists of Napa Valley, we are here to help you with your eye care needs. From routine eye exams to surgical treatments, we treat a wide range of eye conditions. Refractive conditions are those that can typically be treated with glasses, contacts or LASIK. These include nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), age-related farsightedness (presbyopia), and astigmatism. Most of our Napa, Benicia, and Sonoma, CA vision patients suffer from some combination of the above. Thankfully, these are common issues that have a variety of solutions that our board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrist would be happy to chat with you about.

Myopia: Commonly known as nearsightedness, this condition causes individuals to see clearly close up but have difficulty seeing objects that are further away. This often develops in childhood and can progressively get worse over time.

Hyperopia: Commonly known as farsightedness, this condition causes individuals to have difficulty seeing close up but they are able to see clearly from a distance. Farsightedness can also occur in early childhood and become problematic with age.

Presbyopia: Commonly known as age-related farsightedness, this typically develops around age 40 and worsens until the mid-60’s. It is commonly improved with reading glasses or bifocals, though there are alternatives to these options as well.

Astigmatism: A common condition where the eye cannot focus light evenly on the retina. This is typically caused by an oblong curvature of the front of the eye and causes blurred and distorted vision.

Each refractive condition has specific symptoms associated with it. However, there are common symptoms that develop which indicate the presence of a refractive condition. These common symptoms include:

• Hazy vision
• Headaches
• Double vision
• Squinting
• Seeing a halo or glare around bright lights
• Issues focusing when looking at a computer or reading
• Eye strain (eyes feeling tired or sore)

If you suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness, age-related farsightedness, or astigmatism, you are likely aware of the difficulties these conditions can cause. Our board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrist can help you find a way to comfortably treat these conditions. After a comprehensive eye exam, our Napa, CA vision team can help determine the proper prescription or treatment to improve your sight. If vision correction through glasses or contacts is the right choice for you, we can set you up with a stylish pair of glasses or a comfortable pair of contacts. In some cases, laser eye surgery or refractive lens exchange surgery may be available. Speak to your Eye Specialists of Napa Valley doctor to determine if this is an option for you.

How many people have refractive errors in their eyes?

Refractive errors are very common and affect more than 150 million Americans.

What causes refractive errors?

There are three typical reasons for refractive errors in the eye. These are:

• The shape of the eyeball (either too long or too short)
• The shape of the cornea
• The natural effects of aging

All of these prevent the light from focusing correctly on your retina and affect your vision.

How are refractive errors diagnosed?

A routine eye exam can diagnose most refractive errors. During an eye exam at Eye Specialists of Napa Valley, you will be asked to read a vision chart while looking through a series of lenses to measure the severity of your refractive error.

What are the different types of refractive errors?

There are four general classes of refractive errors:

• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Presbyopia (vision loss due to aging)
• Astigmatism (a cornea with an abnormal shape)

What kinds of symptoms do refractive errors cause?

A refractive error will typically affect your vision by causing:

• Blurred vision
• Tired eyes
• Difficulty focusing your eyes
• Fatigue
• Headaches and migraines
• Pain in and around the eyes

If you are tired of squinting, asking a friend or family member to hold something at a distance for you, or if you would like to be able to drive at night more easily, you may be suffering from one of four common vision conditions: nearsightedness, farsightedness, age-related farsightedness, or astigmatism. The good news is these conditions are common and very easy to treat at Eye Specialists of Napa Valley. Our talented team of board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrist can perform comprehensive eye exams to determine your condition(s) and severity. From there, they can create a prescription that would allow you to see more clearly. Depending on your lifestyle, contacts or glasses may be suggested. In some cases, a patient here in Napa, CA, may be interested in laser eye surgery, which can be discussed with their doctor. For more information on common vision conditions or to schedule an eye exam, please contact our friendly office staff today.