What Does “Refractive” Mean?

Even if you know all about myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism, you may not know what “refractive” means. These vision problems are called refractive errors, meaning that an irregularity in the shape of the eye or the curvature of the cornea is preventing light entering the eye from focusing on a single point on the retina.  When light cannot focus on that single point, vision is blurred.  Eye doctors perform a refractive exam to diagnose the error and prescribe lenses that compensate it or recommend a refractive procedure, such as LASIK, to correct it. Bladeless refractive laser cataract surgery delivers clear vision by removing a cataract, and by correcting the refractive error called astigmatism…during a single procedure. And it’s happening right now, right here in Charleston, thanks to Dr. Kerry Solomon and the LenSx® laser. So now you know.   Impressive, huh? Cataract Awareness Month may be coming to an end, but you don’t have to wait until next August to learn more about cataracts if you visit www.DrKerrySolomon.com.