Most people will require help with their eyesight at some stage in their lives, especially as they get older, and eye health is one of the most critical aspects of one’s overall health. Blurred vision can take several different forms, such as near sighted, far sighted, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Learn more about the different forms of blurred vision below:

• Near sighted: Known to optometrists as myopia, near sighted eyesight means an individual can see clearly close up, but more distant objects are blurred. In this case the optometrist will note a minus sign (-) in the ‘sphere’ part of the prescription. Individuals with near sighted eyesight typically need glasses for many everyday activities, including driving and watching TV or sports.
• Far sighted: This type of blurred eyesight is also called hyperopia. Hyperopia causes close up objects (and sometimes distance objects) to be out of focus. In this case the optometrist will note a plus sign (+) in the ‘sphere’ part of the prescription. Individuals with far sighted eyesight often need glasses for reading, VDU work, driving, and watching TV.
• Astigmatism: This occurs when the curvature of the eye is not perfectly round. In this case the optometrist will note numbers in the ‘cylinder’ and ‘axis’ parts of the prescription. Astigmatism can cause blurred vision at all distances, which means that many individuals with this type of blurred eyesight need to wear glasses all the time.
• Presbyopia: This type of blurred eyesight occurs when the lens inside the eye loses some of its flexibility so that it becomes difficult to focus on close-up objects. Presbyopia is a result of the eye’s aging process and it typically affects individuals starting in their mid-40s and older. In these cases the optometrist notes a figure in the ‘near’ or ‘intermediate’ part of the prescription and glasses for reading are usually necessary.

It is essential to have yearly eye examinations with an experienced optometrist in order to keep your eyesight in good health. If you have any questions about your eyesight, eye health, or optical prescription, please do not hesitate to ask us. Our optometrist team has been helping the Overland Park community protect and improve their eyesight since 1994. You can reach us to discuss your eyesight by calling (913) 345-2020.