Light rays enter the eye through the clear cornea, then through the pupil and the lens. These light rays are focused onto the retina, a light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. Signals from the retina are sent through the optic nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as the images we see.
Seventy (70) percent of the eye’s focusing power comes from the cornea. When people have problems seeing clearly, it is frequently because of a refractive error. There are four main types of refractive error:
- Myopia or nearsightedness occurs when the distance between the retina and the cornea is too long. Light rays entering the eye are focused in front of the retina, causing the image that falls on the retina to be blurred.
- Hyperopia or farsightedness occurs when the distance between the cornea and retina is too short. Light rays entering the eye have not yet come into focus when they reach the retina, so again, the image is blurred.
- Astigmatism is a condition in which the cornea is curved unevenly. A cornea that is curved the same in each direction is shaped like a basketball, while a cornea with astigmatism is more curved in one direction than the other, like a football. Light passing through this uneven cornea is not properly focused on the retina.
- Presbyopia is a normal condition associated with age that causes problems with our near vision. When we are young, the lenses in our eyes are flexible and able to change focus easily between near and far objects. As we age, this flexibility gradually decreases. At around age 40, many people begin to need corrective lenses for reading.
People with refractive errors might have one or a combination of these conditions. At the Cataract & Refractive Institute of Florida, Dr. Croley will examine and diagnose your vision problems and suggest treatment procedures and solutions to help you manage your life easily.
Get Your Vision Checked Today
At the Cataract & Refractive Institute of Florida, our board-certified ophthalmologist, Dr. James E. Croley III, uses state-of-the-art tools and techniques to help his patients manage their eye conditions. Dr. Croley is a member of the following professional organizations:
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CAPE CORAL
- 613 Del Prado Boulevard, 33990
- (239) 772-2122
LEHIGH ACRES
- 1150 Lee Boulevard, 33936
- (239) 368-1020
BONITA SPRINGS
- 4061 Bonita Beach Road, 34134
- (239) 949-1190
