Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Optical Defects of Eye

Optical defects of the eye are conditions in which the eye's optical system fails to form a clear, focused image on the retina, degrading vision. The eye functions as a compound optical instrument in which the cornea and crystalline lens refract incoming light to converge it on the retina; deviations in the shape, c…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 10 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 26× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2470-0436 🗓 Reviewed June 2026

Overview

Optical defects of the eye are conditions in which the eye's optical system fails to form a clear, focused image on the retina, degrading vision. The eye functions as a compound optical instrument in which the cornea and crystalline lens refract incoming light to converge it on the retina; deviations in the shape, curvature, transparency, or axial length of these components, or in their coordinated function, produce optical defects. The most common category is refractive error, in which the focusing power of the eye does not match its length: myopia, where images focus in front of the retina; hyperopia, where they focus behind it; astigmatism, arising from asymmetric corneal or lenticular curvature; and presbyopia, the age-related loss of accommodative focusing. Beyond these, higher-order optical aberrations and abnormalities such as opacities of the lens or cornea further distort the image. Such defects cause blurred vision, eye strain, and reduced visual acuity, and they are detected through clinical refraction, photorefraction devices, and visual acuity testing with charts and screeners. Correction is achieved with spectacles, contact lenses, or refractive surgery, while underlying media opacities may require other interventions. Within ophthalmic science, the study of optical defects encompasses their measurement, the factors that produce them, their impact on visual function, and the technologies used to screen for and correct impaired focusing of the eye.

Research published in this journal

10 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 10 articles above have been cited 26 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Optical Defects of Eye, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Ophthalmic Science (ISSN 2470-0436).

Journal editorial board
Argyrios Tzamalis · GREECE Brian M. DeBroff · United States Emanuela Interlandi · Italy

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.