Your eyes are an amazing part of your body that is sometimes compared to the way a camera works. Your eyes are constantly bending incoming light, focusing it onto a precise area at the back of your eye. At Vision One Boise, we want you to understand that when this process works right, you see a sharp, clear picture of the world.
But what happens when the focus is off? Eyeglass lenses work by precisely bending light before it enters your eye, correcting its path so it lands at the back of your eye in the right spot for clear vision. A refractive error, diagnosed during a comprehensive eye exam, is the most common reason for needing this correction.
The Science of Sight and Bending Light
The job of focusing light belongs to your eye’s cornea (the clear outer layer of your eye) and lens (a transparent part of your eye on the inside). These parts of your eye work together to make sure the image your brain sees is clear.
What Happens When Vision Is Blurry
Blurry vision often occurs when light doesn’t focus correctly on your retina (the back of your eye). This is known as a refractive error, and it’s the most common reason you might need glasses. The shape of your eye or changes to your lens over time can cause these errors.
Nearsightedness (Myopia)
If your eye is a bit too long, light focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This makes distant objects appear blurry, while objects up close remain clear. This common condition is also known as myopia.
Farsightedness (Hyperopia)
When your eye is slightly too short, light will focus behind the retina. This can make close-up tasks like reading feel strained or look blurry.
Astigmatism
A condition called astigmatism occurs when your cornea has an irregular, football-shaped surface rather than a round one. This scatters light to multiple focus points, causing blurry or distorted vision at any distance.
Presbyopia
As you age, the lens inside your eye loses some of its flexibility. This change makes it more difficult to focus on close objects, which is why many people find they need reading glasses around 40 years of age.
How Lenses Fix Your Focus
Eyeglass lenses are tools that pre-correct the light before it reaches your eye. By changing the angle of the light, they help it land on your retina correctly, making the image you see clearer.
Different vision problems require different lens shapes to properly redirect light.
- Concave lenses: These lenses are used for nearsightedness. Because they are thinner in the middle, they spread light rays out, which moves the focal point backward onto the retina.
- Convex lenses: These are used for farsightedness. Because these lenses are thicker in the center, they bend light inward, moving the focal point forward so it lands correctly on the retina.
- Cylindrical lenses: These lenses are designed for astigmatism. They correct for the cornea’s irregular shape by helping light focus correctly in specific directions.
More Than Just Single-Vision Lenses
Your vision needs might change depending on what it is you’re looking at. Some modern eyeglass lenses can handle multiple focusing distances in a single pair.
Bifocals and Trifocals
These lenses have clearly defined sections with different prescription powers. Bifocals have 2 zones (usually for distance and near vision) while trifocals have 3 zones for intermediate ranges.
Progressive Lenses
Progressive lenses provide a smooth, invisible transition between multiple prescription strengths. These lenses can help you see clearly at all distances (far, intermediate, and near) without any distracting lines in your field of vision.
Other Lens Options
You can also customize your lenses with features that add comfort and protection to your daily life. An optometry professional can guide you through lens coatings like:
- Photochromic coatings that automatically darken in sunlight.
- Blue light filtering, which some people find helps with comfort during screen use.
- Prescription sunglasses for clear vision outdoors.
Find the Right Prescription for Your Eyes
A comprehensive eye exam is how you find out exactly what prescription your eyes need. A full exam is much more than a simple vision screening—it’s a detailed evaluation of your entire visual system and eye health.
What Happens During an Eye Exam?
During your exam, our optometrist in Boise can perform several tests to help diagnose refractive errors and look for early signs of eye conditions. This careful assessment helps our team to find the precise lens prescription that helps you see with comfort and clarity.
Schedule Your Eye Exam Today
If you’re experiencing blurry vision, it’s time for your annual eye exam, or you’re looking to refresh your frames, our team at Vision One Boise can help. Schedule an appointment to get the clarity you need.
