What Are Refractive Errors?Understanding Myopia, Hyperopia and Astigmatism

Fi Millington-Pipe
Jul 24
2 min read

Updated: Aug 4

At EyePros, we believe that understanding your eye health shouldn't feel like trying to read the small print without your glasses on. So, let’s talk about something we see (pun mildly intended) every day in clinic: refractive errors.

Blurry vision causes; If your vision is blurry, strained, or just not what it used to be, this might be why.

What are Refractive Errors?

A refractive error happens when the shape of your eye stops light from focusing properly on the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye that sends images to your brain.

Think of it like this: if your eye is a camera, a refractive error means the lens is slightly off and your photos (a.k.a. what you see) come out blurry.

There are three common types we diagnose and treat at EyePros:

1. Myopia (Eye short sightedness)

If you have eye short sightedness or struggle to read road signs but can read a menu just fine? That’s likely myopia.

What’s going on: Your eye is slightly too long, or your cornea curves too steeply, which causes light to focus in front of the retina.

Symptoms:

Blurry distance vision
Squinting
Eye strain headaches or tired eyes

2. Hyperopia (Eye long sightedness)

If you have eye long sightedness, you might find faraway objects clear but struggle with things up close – like reading or working on a laptop.

What’s going on: Your eye is a bit too short, or the cornea isn’t curved enough. Light ends up focusing behind the retina.

Symptoms:

Blurry close-up vision
Headaches while reading or using screens
Fatigue after close work

3. Astigmatism

This one just means your eye isn’t perfectly round, more rugby ball than football, causing light to focus unevenly.

What’s going on:An irregularly shaped cornea or lens scatters light as it enters the eye.

Symptoms:

Blurry or distorted vision at all distances
Poor night vision
Headaches or squinting

How EyePros Can Help

The good news? Refractive errors are incredibly common and at EyePros, they’re one of the things we specialise in.

We offer a full range of options to suit your lifestyle and preferences:

Implantable Contact lenses
Laser eye surgery
Lens replacement surgery

Your journey starts with a comprehensive consultation with one of our expert clinicians – no rush, no jargon, just tailored advice and outstanding care.