Refractive errors are extremely common eye conditions that make your vision blurry. Usually, all you’ll need is a new pair of glasses or contacts to restore your vision. Talk to your eye care specialist about vision correction surgery if you have a refractive error but don’t want to wear corrective lenses.
A refractive error is something about the natural shape of your eyes that makes your vision blurry. Refractive errors are some of the most common vision problems people experience.
The parts of your eyes work together like a relay team to pass light that enters your eye along a pathway to your brain. Light passes through your cornea — the clear part at the front of your eye. Your cornea focuses that light through your lens into a signal that hits your retina — the layer at the very back of your eyeball. Your retina converts that light into electrical signals that your optic nerve sends to your brain. Your brain then uses those signals to create the images you see.
Depending on which type of refractive error you have, something about the shape of your eyeball, your cornea or your lens prevents your eyes from focusing correctly on objects you’re looking at. This distorts your vision.
There are a few types of refractive errors. Some make it hard to focus your eyes on objects close to you. Others make objects far away look blurry. No matter which type of refractive error you have, an eye care specialist can diagnose and treat it. They’ll check your eyes and vision and prescribe a treatment to help you see clearly again.
Most people with refractive errors develop them over time as they grow and develop. Many refractive errors first appear in kids. But you can develop a refractive error at any point in your life, even if you’ve had clear vision before.
Visit an eye care specialist as soon as you notice your vision changing or getting worse. Even if you already wear corrective lenses like eyeglasses or contact lenses, you need your eyes examined regularly.
The four most common types of refractive errors include:
People who have nearsightedness (myopia) have difficulty seeing distant objects, but can see objects that are close to them clearly. For example, if you have nearsightedness, you might not be able to make out signs on the side of the road until they’re just a few feet away or right outside of your car’s window.
Usually, nearsightedness happens because your eye grows too long from front to back. Sometimes, nearsightedness happens because your cornea or lens is too curved.
Nearsightedness usually develops in kids when they’re around 10 years old.
Farsightedness (hyperopia) makes it hard to see objects close to you clearly. It’s the opposite of myopia. If you have farsightedness, you might be able to read words on a screen on the other side of the room clearly, but will struggle to read notes you’re typing on your laptop that’s right in front of you.
Your eye growing too short from front to back causes farsightedness. Another cause is your cornea or lens being too flat (not being curved enough).
People with farsightedness are usually born with it.
Age-related farsightedness (presbyopia) is a specific type of farsightedness that develops as you get older. Just like the farsightedness that can affect anyone, presbyopia makes it hard to see things up close. It’s usually the reason people need reading glasses as they age.
Presbyopia develops when the lens of your eye becomes less flexible and can’t focus on objects as well as it used to. It usually develops in people older than 40.
Astigmatism can make objects at any distance look blurry. Usually, eyes are round. If you have astigmatism, your eye is shaped like a football or the back of a spoon. This makes light that enters your eyes bend and distort more than it should.
Astigmatism can develop at any point in your life. Some people are born with it. Others don’t experience it until they’re adults.
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All refractive errors will make your vision worse. In addition to having trouble seeing clearly, your symptoms might include:
Sometimes, kids might not know their vision is getting worse. If you notice your child has a hard time concentrating or if their grades in school suddenly get worse, they might have a refractive error. Visit your pediatrician or eye care specialist if you notice any changes in your child’s eyes, vision or behavior.
Changes in the shape of your cornea, your lens or your whole eye can cause refractive errors. Which type of refractive error you have depends on how your eye is shaped.
They can also develop as you get older. Aging eyes can develop a refractive error you didn’t have when you were younger.
Some people develop a refractive error after surgery to remove cataracts from their eyes.
An eye care specialist will diagnose refractive errors with an eye exam. They’ll look at your eyes (including inside them). They’ll also have you perform a visual acuity test. This will help determine which type of refractive error you have and how much it’s affecting your vision.
Treatments for refractive errors include:
Usually, your eye care specialist will prescribe you glasses or contacts before you have vision correction surgery. However, you might be a good candidate for vision correction surgery right away. Talk to your eye care specialist about which treatment will work the best for you.
There’s usually nothing you can do to prevent a refractive error from developing in your eyes. Because they’re caused by the shape of your eye, cornea or lens — or changes to these parts of your eyes — there’s no way to prevent refractive errors. There’s also nothing you can do to prevent your child from being born with a refractive error.
Having a refractive error might require you to wear glasses or contacts — or need vision correction surgery — but it shouldn’t impact your health.
The prescription (or strength) of your corrective lenses might change over time. Some people who receive vision correction surgery experience regression — the effects of the surgery disappearing over time.
If you have a refractive error, you have an increased risk of developing other conditions that affect your eyes, including:
Having your eyes and vision checked regularly can help your eye care specialist identify problems right away. How often you should get your eyes checked usually depends on your age:
You might need your eyes checked more often than this if you wear glasses, contacts or need another type of visual aid. People with diabetes need their eyes checked more often than what’s listed here.
Ask your eye care specialist how often you need an eye exam.
See your healthcare provider or eye care specialist as soon as you notice any changes in your eyes or vision.
Go to the emergency room if you have any of the following symptoms:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Refractive errors are some of the most common eye problems people experience. No matter which type of refractive error you have, your eye care specialist will work with you to find a treatment that lets you see clearly again. Visit your eye care specialist regularly, even if you don’t think your vision has changed all that much. Sometimes small changes in your eyes or vision could make an existing refractive error worse or create a new one.
Visit your eye care specialist if you notice your child suddenly squinting more, experiencing headaches or getting worse grades on their schoolwork. They might have a refractive error and not know it’s treatable.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/29/2022.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy