We are very lucky to live in a day and age when vision problems can be very easily corrected. Optical supplies have been continually improved and innovated upon, and now glasses and contact lens distributors can provide consumers with corrective lenses and optical supply for all sorts of vision problems.

The most common reason that people need corrective lenses in the first place is to correct refraction errors. Refraction is the bending of light as is it passes through an object, and vision occurs when the eyes bend, or refract, light rays. Those light rays are converted by the retina into messages which are then sent to the brain.

Nearsightedness or Myopia: This is a condition in which objects nearby appear clearly, but objects farther away are blurry. This is caused because light comes to focus in front of the retina instead of on the retina.

Farsightedness or Hyperopia: This type of refractive error brings distant objects into clear focus, but closer objects may seem very blurry. Farsightedness can manifest itself in many different types of ways — sometimes, objects can be blurry at virtually any distance.

Astigmatism: This condition occurs when the eye does not focus light evenly on the retina, often causing images to appear blurry and stretched out.

Presbyopia
: This is an age-related condition where the ability to focus up close becomes more and more difficult. As the eye ages, the lenses lose the ability to change shape enough to allow for precise focus.

All of these conditions, except for presbyopia, can occur in both adults and children. Some signs include double vision, haziness, eye strain, and headaches. Indeed, six out of 10 people in the developed world wear glasses or contact lenses, or have had some form of corrective surgery. Contact lens manufacturers, contact lens distributors, and optical suppliers all work hard to keep optometrists and people with refractive errors fully stocked with the corrective lenses that are right for them. Make sure to get an eye exam periodically so that you don’t strain your eyes any more than they need to be.