Vision and sport: see better, play better
Visual assessment, correction and eye protection tailored to the demands of each sport.
Read article ↗WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- A refractive error occurs when light entering the eye is not focused at a precise point coinciding with the central retina.
- Sometimes light focuses at a point that does not coincide with the retina. These are spherical refractive errors, such as myopia and hyperopia.
- In myopia, light converges at a point in front of the retina, reaching the retina as an unfocused, diverging beam.
A refractive error occurs when light entering the eye is not focused at a precise point coinciding with the central retina.
Sometimes light focuses at a point that does not coincide with the retina. These are spherical refractive errors, such as myopia and hyperopia.
In myopia, light converges at a point in front of the retina, reaching the retina as an unfocused, diverging beam.
Myopia
In hyperopia, light reaches the retina before converging to a single point and is therefore still out of focus.
Hyperopia
Another common refractive error is astigmatism. Because of the eye's toricity, or oval shape, light entering the eye does not focus at one isolated point but in two planes that may lie at different distances from the retina.
Astigmatism
Refractive errors can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery.
The best option depends on several factors that your ophthalmologist should carefully assess.
Glasses
Contact lens
Corneal surgery
Lens surgery
This information does not replace an individual medical assessment. Follow the advice of the team looking after you.
Dr. Nuno Lopes · Patient information
Editorial presentation updated on 27 October 2026. Your team's individual instructions take priority.
