Vision problems: questions, page 3
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Short sightedness, long sightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia explained in plain language, including why each one happens, how it is measured, and which of them laser vision correction can and cannot change.
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Vision problems & prescriptions questions and answers
Vision problems
Short sightedness, long sightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia explained in plain language, including why each one happens, how it is measured, and which of them laser vision correction can and cannot change.
Blur, night vision & strain 1
Blurred, unstable or tiring vision and what tends to cause it.
How often does eyesight change? Answer
There is no schedule that applies to everyone. Prescriptions often change through childhood and adolescence, settle in early adulthood, and then change again with reading vision in the forties and with cataract later. What matters is the pattern in your own records.
That pattern is also what a surgical assessment is asking about. A prescription that has been the same for a couple of years is a different proposition from one that moved last year in either direction.
What this depends on
- Your age
- How the prescription has changed across previous tests
- Whether any change is explained by another condition
Sources American Academy of Ophthalmology
This information is for educational purposes and does not replace an examination by a qualified eye-care professional.
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These answers describe what is generally true. They are not a diagnosis and they cannot say whether a treatment is suitable for you, because suitability depends on measurements taken during an examination. Only a qualified ophthalmologist who has examined you can decide.
Sources & further reading
We prefer primary sources. Where a claim comes from a manufacturer, a single study or a regulator, it is labelled as such below.
- EyeSmart: eye health information for the public
Patient-facing material from the largest ophthalmology professional body, covering conditions, tests and treatments outside refractive surgery.
Used for Cross-checking patient-facing explanations of non-refractive eye conditions; Describing what tests such as dilation and OCT involve.
Link checked 23 September 2026