The increasing demand for high-speed and reliable wireless communication has led to the exploration of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) as a key enabler for next-generation networks. While the conventional far-field models assume uniform propagation, near-field communication provides greater control over signal reflections, making it essential for scenarios requiring precise beam forming and energy efficient transmission. However, near-field propagation results in new challenges, including the element-wise variations in distance, angle and polarization losses, which must be accurately modeled to maximize system performance. In this paper, the near-field channel model that incorporates these characteristics is developed and the Bit Error Rate (BER) performance as a function of receiver distance and azimuthal angle is systematically analyzed. The results emphasize the critical impact of the RIS configuration on minimizing BER, demonstrating its potential for optimizing advanced wireless communication systems.