Refractive check

A refractive check, also known as a refraction test or refraction examination, is an essential part of an eye examination. It is performed to determine the refractive error of the eyes, which includes conditions like nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.

During a refractive check, the optometrist or Ophthalmologist uses a series of lenses and instruments to measure how light bends as it enters the eye. This helps determine the prescription needed for glasses or contact lenses to correct any refractive error and achieve clearer vision.

The refractive check is typically done by asking the patient to read from an eye chart and assessing their visual acuity at different distances.

Myopia

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurry, while close objects are seen clearly. It occurs when the eyeball is longer than normal or the cornea is excessively curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This leads to blurred distance vision. Myopia often develops during childhood and can worsen as a person grows.

It can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgeries like LASIK, which redirect the light to focus correctly on the retina, allowing clear vision for both near and distant objects.

Hyperopia

Hyperopia, commonly known as farsightedness, is a vision condition where objects at a distance are seen more clearly than those up close. It occurs when the eyeball is shorter than normal or the cornea is flatter, causing light to focus behind the retina instead of directly on it. This results in blurred near vision. Hyperopia is often present from birth but can also develop later in life.

Glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgeries like LASIK can correct hyperopia by helping the light to focus properly on the retina, providing clear vision for both distant and close-up objects.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a common vision condition that causes blurred or distorted vision at any distance. It occurs when the cornea (the front surface of the eye) or the lens inside the eye has an irregular shape, rather than being smooth and evenly curved. This irregularity causes light to be focused unevenly on the retina, resulting in blurry or distorted vision. People with astigmatism may experience symptoms like eyestrain, headaches, or difficulty seeing fine details. Corrective measures such as glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgeries can help to compensate for the irregularities and provide clearer vision by properly focusing light onto the retina.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a common vision condition that typically occurs as people age, usually starting around the age of 40. It affects the eye’s ability to focus on close-up objects. The natural aging process causes the lens inside the eye to become less flexible, making it difficult to bring close objects into clear focus. People with presbyopia often experience blurred vision, eyestrain, and difficulty reading small print. Reading glasses, bifocals, or multifocal lenses are commonly used to correct presbyopia by providing additional focusing power for close-up tasks.

Regular eye exams are important for monitoring and managing myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia.