If you have trouble seeing far away or need to hold your phone further away to read messages, you might have myopia or hyperopia.
So, what’s the difference between myopia vs hyperopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, means you struggle to see things that are far away clearly.
On the flip side, hyperopia, or farsightedness, can make it tough to see things up close.
These vision problems are common, but many people don’t understand how they differ.
In this article, we’ll break down what myopia and hyperopia are, how they affect your vision, what causes them, the treatment options out there, and when it’s time to see your eye doctor at Vision Care Centre.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a condition that makes it easy to see nearby objects but hard to see things that are far away.
In a nearsighted eye, light focuses too far in front of the retina instead of directly on it.
Nearsightedness usually starts in childhood and often gets worse during adolescence.
It typically stabilizes in early adulthood.
Children with progressive myopia may need special glasses, contacts, or eye drops to slow down the worsening of their vision.
Some signs of myopia include:
- Trouble seeing road signs or the board at school
- Squinting to see distant objects
- Eye strain or headaches
- Frequent blinking or rubbing their eyes (especially in children)
What causes Myopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when the eyeball is a bit too long or the cornea is too curved.
This causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it.
Several factors can lead to myopia, including:
- Genetics (if one or both parents have myopia)
- Too much close-up work, like reading or using screens
- Not enough outdoor activity
What Is Hyperopia?
Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, means you can see distant objects clearly, but things that are close appear blurry.
Some people with mild hyperopia might not notice the problem until they feel eye strain.
Young children can often adjust to small amounts of hyperopia without issue.
However, if hyperopia is more severe, it can make everything look out of focus, no matter the distance.
Many children are born with hyperopia, which often improves as their eyes grow and develop.
Common symptoms of hyperopia include:
- Blurry vision when reading or doing close tasks
- Eye fatigue or headaches after looking at screens or reading
- Trouble concentrating on nearby activities
- Squinting to see things up close
What causes Hyperopia?
Hyperopia happens when the eyeball is too short or the cornea doesn’t curve enough.
This causes light to focus behind the retina, making it hard to see things up close.
Hyperopia can be inherited and may be present at birth.
In children, mild hyperopia may go unnoticed because their eyes can adjust.
Myopia vs Hyperopia: Similarities and Differences
When people compare myopia vs hyperopia, they only look at what makes them different, but there are also similarities, so let’s explore both.
Similarities
Myopia and hyperopia are common vision problems that affect how your eyes focus light; that’s the main similarity.
The second one is that if you have nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia), you can easily fix this with prescription glasses or contact lenses.
You can also consider procedures like LASIK and PRK once your vision stabilizes, usually when you’re in your early 20s.
Other big similarities are that if you don’t treat these issues, you might notice annoying signs, such as squinting to see clearly, tired or itchy eyes, and headaches from eye strain.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to schedule a full eye exam with an eye doctor.
Differences
When comparing myopia vs hyperopia, it’s clear they affect your vision in different ways.
With myopia, or nearsightedness, you see things clearly up close, like reading a book, but faraway objects, such as road signs or the TV from across the room, look blurry.
In contrast, hyperopia, or farsightedness, allows you to see distant objects clearly but makes it hard to see things up close, like reading, writing, or using your phone.
These differences come from the shape of your eye and how light focuses.
In myopia, your eye is longer than usual, which causes light to focus in front of your retina.
For hyperopia, your eye is shorter, which makes light focus behind the retina..
Myopia usually kicks in during childhood or your teenage years and can get worse over time.
Hyperopia, on the other hand, is often present from birth and tends to become more noticeable as you get older.
Can you have both Myopia and Hyperopia?
Myopia and hyperopia are basically opposites, but it’s totally possible to have both.
Take anisometropia, for instance, which happens when one eye is nearsighted (myopic) and the other is farsighted (hyperopic).
Plus, if someone has presbyopia, they might experience both issues, especially if they’re already dealing with myopia or hyperopia.
How to Prevent Myopia and Hyperopia from Getting Worse
Hyperopia usually stays the same over time, but myopia can get worse, especially in children and teens.
Thankfully, there are new treatments to help slow its progression:
- Special contact lenses worn overnight can reshape the cornea.
- Low-dose medication can slow eye growth.
- Multifocal contact lenses can reduce eye strain and slow progression.
In Summary
Now that you know the difference between myopia vs hyperopia, you can recognize your symptoms and take action.
If you have trouble seeing distant road signs or find it hard to read a book, getting the right diagnosis is important.
Our team at Vision Care Centre is here to help you at every step.
Book online or give us a call.
