Give Focus to Life | See Clearly What Matters

How is Your Focus?

Do you like the way you see when reading, at the computer, or at a distance (e.g. driving)? Poor vision can get in the way of everyday activities. Clear vision gives focus to life.

Beyond glasses and contacts, today's advanced refractive vision corrective options such as LASIK, Implantable Collamer Lens (ICLs) and Refractive Lens Exchange are safe and effective options to help you give focus to life and seeing clearly what matters.

Vision Conditions and Refractive Options

What is Normal Vision?

Normal vision occurs when incoming light projects through the cornea and lens,  onto the retina.  This signal then travels via the optic nerve to the brain to form the images we see.

Many vision conditions exist due to eye anatomy, changes to your general health, or aging of your eyes. 

Astigmatism

When the cornea is shaped more like an oblong football  than a round basketball, light focuses on more than one point on the retina, resulting in astigmatism. Those with astigmatism experience difficulties in seeing details or blurred and/ or distorted images.

Astigmatism is quite common and may increase with age. While a small amount of astigmatism may not be noticeable, higher amounts of astigmatism may cause blurry vision, squinting, eye strain, fatigue, and headaches. Astigmatism can usually be corrected with eyeglasses with special lenses, toric contact lenses, or refractive surgery such as laser vision correction and toric intraocular lenses.

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

When the cornea is too steep or when the eyeball is too long, light falls short of the retina, resulting in myopia (nearsightedness). Those with nearsightedness experience more difficulty focusing on far objects than on near objests. 

Myopia (nearsightedness) is quite common and may appear in childhood. Myopia (nearsightedness) can usually be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery and laser vision correction, custom intraocular lenses, and implantable contact lenses.

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

When the cornea being is too flat or when the eyeball is too short, light is focused past the retina, resulting in hyperopia (farsightedness). Those with hyperopia (farsightedness) experience more difficulty focusing on near objects than on far objects. 

Less common than astigmatism or myopia, hyperopia (farsightedness) is often confused with presbyopia, which also causes near vision difficulties but for different reasons. Hyperopia (farsightedness) can usually be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery such as laser vision correction.

Presbyopia (Age Related Condition)

Between the ages of 40-50, the natural lens hardens and the focusing muscles weaken; theeye loses its ability to focus on near objects, resulting in presbyopia. Those with presbyopia will require reading glasses, magnifiers, or need to hold objects further away (e.g. develop "long arms") in order to focus properly when reading, performing near tasks, and/ or using the computer.

As unavoidable as grey hair, presbyopia affects even those who've had perfect vision all their lives.  It has been observed that those with myopia (nearsightedness) may be able to see up close well past their forties, but everyone will experience age-related presbyopia. Presbyopia can usually be corrected with eye glasses with bifocal lenses, multifocal contact lenses, or refractive surgery such as laser vision correction and custom intraocular lenses.

Monovision

This is a vision condition intentionally created to compensate for presbyopia.  It occurs when one eye is selected to be used to provide reading vision and the other eye is to provide distance vision. This can be achieved with contact lenses or surgery.  Most patients may adjust to their new monovision within weeks after surgery; while some patients are not able to adjust due to a feeling of being off-balanced.

Chao Vision Institute Refractive Options

With a reputation Orange County has come to trust for LASIK, cataract, cornea, and refractive vision corrective surgery, Dr. Chao established Chao Vision Institute on the principles of being accountable not only for the results we are able to achieve but in how we achieve them - with commitment, expertise, and integrity.  Conservative measures are always presented first; surgical procedures are offered only when appropriate.