by Sue Bluze

Created on: April 13, 2010

There are a large number of vision problems that an eye test can pick up and identify. These include:

1 - Short sightedness [Myopia] - short sightedness occurs when light is focused in from of the retina instead of on it, causing distance vision to become blurred. It is often caused by the eye muscles working too hard and can improve with age. Although distance vision is blurred near vision is usually clear. Short sightedness usually develops in childhood or adolescence and is often first noticed at school. Spectacles may need to be worn all the time or just for driving, watching TV  or playing sports.

2 - Long sightedness [Hypermetropia] - Long sight occurs when light is focussed behind the retina rather than on it. The eye has to refocus and this can cause discomfort, headaches or problems with near vision. Younger patients can overcome small amounts of long sightedness by using the natural crystalline lens inside the eye. Many of us do this daily with out even realising we are doing it. The ability to do this reduces after the age of 40, when both distance and near vision are likely to become blurred.

3 - Astigmatism [Oval shaped eye] - Astigmatism occurs when the curvature or the cornea or lens is not perfectly round. It is sometimes described as the eye being shaped like a rugby ball rather than a football [soccer]. Most people have a small amount of astigmatism, which often does not need correcting, however if vision is blurred or headaches occur, your Optometrist may recommend spectacles or contact lenses, this can be all the time or just for specific tasks.

4 - Presbyopia [Changes in the eye after the age of 40] - The ability of the eye to focus on near objects decreases with age. This happens as the flexibility of the eye's natural lens diminishes. Most people require near vision correction [reading glasses] by the age of 45. You may be prescribed bifocal or multifocal lenses to correct this condition.

5 - Cataracts - A cataract is a clouding of the natural crystalline lens. Vision becomes blurred and dim because light cannot pass through the clouded lens to the retina at the back of the eye, Cataracts can form at any age, but are most often a natural consequence of getting older. They develop slowly and are painless. In younger people they may occur as the result of injury, they can also be a side effect of certain medication and can also be an indicator or diabetes. Eventually as the cataract fully develops surgery will be required to remove

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