There are several types of contact lens options for correcting all of the most common vision problems: Myopia or Nearsightedness This is a vision problem experienced by up to about one-third of the population. Nearsighted people have difficulty reading highway signs and seeing other objects at a distance, but can see for up-close tasks such as reading or sewing. Myopia occurs when the eyeball is slightly longer than usual from front to back. This causes light rays to focus at a point in front of the retina, rather than directly on its surface. Hyperopia or Farsightedness Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a common vision problem, affecting about a fourth of the population. People with hyperopia can see distant objects very well, but have difficulty seeing objects that are up close. This vision problem occurs when light rays entering the eye focus behind the retina, rather than directly on it. The eyeball of a farsighted person is shorter than normal. Astigmatism Astigmatism is the most common vision problem and often accompanies nearsightedness or farsightedness. Astigmatism is caused by an irregular shaped cornea or the lens. It commonly occurs when the cornea is shaped more like an oblong football than a spherical baseball, which is the normal shape. The oblong shape causes light rays to be out of focus on two points in the back of your eye, rather than on just one. Presbyopia or Aging Eye Presbyopia is caused by an age-related process rather than the way light is refracted, or bent, by the eye. Usually beginning in the 40s, people experience blurred vision at near distances, such as when reading, sewing, or working at the computer. These changes happen to everyone at some point in their life, even if they never had a vision problem before. Presbyopia is caused by a slow loss of flexibility within the lens inside your eye. These age-related changes occur within the proteins in the lens, making the lens harder and less elastic.