What is nearsightedness?
Nearsightedness (myopia) is a vision condition in which you can usually see close or near objects clearly, but cannot see distant ones as clearly.

What is farsightedness?
Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a vision condition in which distant objects are usually seen clearly, but close ones are difficult to bring into focus.

What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a vision condition in which objects at all distances can appear blurred because light entering the eye is unable to be brought to a single focus.

What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a vision condition that occurs when the eye's crystalline lens loses it's ability to change shape when looking at close objects resulting in blurred vision. It usually becomes noticeable when you reach your early-to-mid forties and is a natural part of aging.

How are these vision conditions treated?
Nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia are all treated with eyeglasses or contact lenses. There are also a number of options to surgically alter the shape of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, to correct nearsightedness and low to moderate amounts of farsightedness and astigmatism. These procedures include LASIK, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and radial keratotomy (RK). In addition, there is a non-surgical procedure called orthokeratology or corneal molding that uses gas permeable contact lenses to shape the cornea to eliminate moderate amounts of nearsightedness and astigmatism.

What is amblyopia?
Amblyopia (lazy eye) is the loss or lack of the full development of vision in one eye that is not fully correctable with lenses and is not the result of any identifiable eye health problem. Amblyopia is usually due to conditions such as crossed-eyes (strabismus) or a large difference in the prescription (refractive) error between the two eyes.

How is amblyopia treated?

In young children, patching the good eye may help the amblyopic eye to improve. In addition, to help improve vision function, vision therapy techniques may be used. Eyeglasses or contact lenses may be prescribed to correct any refractive errors.

What are crossed-eyes?
Strabismus (crossed-eyes) is a vision condition in which your eyes are not properly aligned with each other. One or both eyes may alternately turn in (esotropia), out (exotropia), up (hypertropia) or down (hypotropia).

How are crossed-eyes treated?
Treatment of crossed-eyes often includes use of eyeglasses, prisms and vision therapy. In some cases, surgery may be needed.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease in which the fluid pressure in the eye increases and damages the optic nerve. This damage can cause severe vision loss and even blindness, if untreated.