This translates into 210,000 Australians having visual impairment due to under-corrected refractive error. This can be eliminated with the provision of proper glasses . This could remove a barrier to independent living, to holding a driver's licence and to working without impairment. Light rays focus behind the retina, and close objects look blurred.
Light rays focus in front of the retina rather than on the retina.
Distant objects look blurred. Many people with myopia or hypermetropia also have some astigmatism. Caused by changes in the curvature of the cornea itself, astigmatism distorts the light rays entering the eye and prevents them from focusing clearly. In addition to the above refractive errors, with age the lens of the eye loses its flexibility and is less able to change its shape to sharply focus the light on the retina. Close tasks such as reading or sewing become more difficult.