Myopia vs Hyperopia

By Dr. April Hurley

Do you sometimes feel like you’re looking at the world through a funhouse mirror? It can seem that way if you have myopia or hyperopia, especially when you consider that most children and adults hold their phones, books and tablets about 12 to 16 inches away from their faces. If you’re holding your phone closer, you may be nearsighted or have myopia, and if you’re holding your reading material at arm’s length, you may be farsighted or have hyperopia. Let’s take a look at these eye problems, how they’re diagnosed and how our eye doctors in Atlanta can help you see clearly.

Understanding Myopia vs Hyperopia

Myopia and hyperopia affect the way light is focused at the back of your eye. Let’s take a look at what they are and how they affect your sight.

What is myopia (nearsightedness)?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, means the individual can see things clearly up close, while things far away appear blurry or wavy, as if they’re underwater or being reflected through a warped mirror. For example, if you’re nearsighted, you can probably read a book and view your phone fine, but you might not be able to read a street sign clearly while you’re sitting in the passenger’s seat of a car or a whiteboard while sitting in a classroom.

What is hyperopia (farsightedness)?

For people with hyperopia, seeing the whiteboard or reading street signs in a car is no problem. However, these individuals may have trouble seeing the print in a book or on a smartphone. In other words, they can’t see clearly close-up, but they can see clearly far away.

How does nearsightedness or farsightedness affect the way light focuses in your eyes?

When you have myopia, the light focuses in front of your retina, which allows you to see close-up objects clearly but not those that are far away. When you have hyperopia, the light is focused somewhere behind your retina. This means that you can see clearly at a distance but not up close.

How are myopia and hyperopia different from astigmatism and presbyopia?

Myopia typically occurs when the cornea is too curved or the eye is too long.
When the eye is shorter than average or the cornea is flatter than average, hyperopia typically occurs.
Astigmatism results in having corneas that are football-shaped. With this refractive error, vision is affected at all distances.
Presbyopia is an age-related condition that causes farsightedness, most commonly in people over 40 years of age.

Signs and Symptoms in Babies, Children, Teens, and Adults

Vision problems can show up at any age, but the signs often look different depending on whether you’re a baby, child, teen, or adult. Recognizing symptoms like squinting, eye rubbing, blurry vision, headaches or difficulty reading early can help you get an eye exam and correct problems before they affect daily life.

What signs of myopia or hyperopia should parents watch for in babies and young children?

Squinting, rubbing eyes or excessive blinking
Holding books, devices or toys extremely close to the face
Clumsiness, misjudging steps or bumping into things
Avoiding activities that require visual focus, like puzzles or coloring

What symptoms in school-age kids and teens suggest they are nearsighted or farsighted?

Difficulty seeing the whiteboard or objects and signs at a distance
Prolonged screen use or reading results in complaints of headaches and/or eye strain
Falling grades or frustration with schoolwork
Avoiding sports or hobbies requiring clear vision
Saying that they can’t see things clearly
Saying that their eyes are tired

What does farsightedness feel like in adults?

Difficulty reading things like menus, tablets and phones
Blurry vision for close tasks
Headaches at the end of the day
Constantly needing to hold things further away

When is blurry vision or eye strain a reason to schedule an eye exam soon?

A worsening of blurry vision
Persistent headaches or eye discomfort
Poor night or low-light vision
Crossed eyes or double vision in children

Causes, Risk Factors, and Progression of Myopia and Hyperopia

Let’s break down the causes, risk factors and progression expectations of nearsightedness and farsightedness.

What causes myopia and why can it get worse over time?

Family History – Individuals are more likely to be nearsighted if they have a close family member who also has the condition.
Screen Time and Close-Up Work – lots of screen time and up-close work may contribute to the progression of myopia in children and adults.

What causes hyperopia, and is it always a problem?

Family history – Individuals are more likely to have hyperopia or farsightedness if they have a family member with the condition.
Age – Mild cases of farsightedness often go undiagnosed in a person’s early years, since they don’t interfere with the person’s daily life. However, the condition can get worse as a person ages.
Symptoms – Hyperopia isn’t always a problem, but if you notice frequent headaches, eye strain or changes in your vision, you should seek the care of a qualified Atlanta eyecare specialist.

Does near work like reading or phone use lead to myopia, or only make it more severe?

Excessive screen time and performing close-up work are not known to directly cause myopia. However, it is believed that staring at objects and words up close can contribute to the progression of the refractive error, especially in children, because their eyes are still developing.

Is hyperopia a risk factor for lazy eye (amblyopia) or other complications?

Yes, having hyperopia can be a risk factor for developing lazy eye. It may also lead to eye strain, headaches, difficulty reading and double vision. The good news is that timely treatment, like glasses and contact lenses, can correct vision and help with any complications.

How Myopia and Hyperopia Are Diagnosed

Comprehensive eye exams are used to diagnose myopia and hyperopia. These exams test visual acuity and eye health. If refractive errors are found, corrective lenses are often recommended. If other eye health problems are discovered, a treatment plan will be developed.

How does a comprehensive eye exam detect myopia vs hyperopia?

During a thorough eye exam, the doctor first checks how clearly you see at different distances. This is called a visual acuity test. Distance vision is checked via a chart projected onto a wall, and near vision is checked via a handheld chart. If vision issues are found, a refraction test is used to determine your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription.

When children’s eyes are being examined, the eye doctor may choose to use special eye drops that relax the focusing muscles. This makes it easier to get an accurate measurement of their refractive error, which determines whether they are nearsighted or farsighted. These drops are safe and only used when needed.

What do negative and positive prescriptions mean on my glasses or contact lens prescription?

When you get an eyeglasses or contact lens prescription, you might notice a plus (+) or minus (–) sign next to the numbers. A plus sign means that the eye is farsighted, while a minus sign means that the eye is nearsighted.

How often should kids and adults schedule eye exams?

Vision, eye development and eye health should be monitored regularly in children. Initial eye exams should be scheduled between the ages of 6 and 12 months, between the ages of 3 and 5 years old, and annually or just prior to the start of the new school year for children between the ages of 6 and 17. Adults should schedule eye exams every one to two years if they don’t have any refractive errors or a family history of eye disease. If they do have refractive errors or eye disease, including a family history of eye problems, eye exams may be needed more often. With dilation, the good news is that our eyecare specialists in Atlanta can help determine how often you should have your vision and eye health checked.

Treatment and Vision Correction Options

Vision correction options include glasses, contact lenses and eye surgeries, like LASIK and PRK.

How do glasses and contact lenses correct myopia and hyperopia?

Glasses and contacts act like a second lens for your eye. They redirect light so it lands perfectly on your retina so that you can see clearly. Since your eyes can change over time, it’s important to schedule regular eye exams. They can help ensure that your prescription is up-to-date so that you can see clearly.

What are my options for prescription glasses and contact lenses?

There are multiple options for glasses and contact lenses. If you’re not sure which to choose, our eye doctors and optical shop staff can help you find the right type.

Glasses can be purchased as toric, monofocal, bifocal, trifocal or progressive. We can even recommend special coatings to help with glare.
Contact lenses come in soft or hard types. Soft lenses are available in monofocal, bifocal, trifocal, and progressive options. They can be daily wear, replaced each day, or extended wear, which allows use for several consecutive days, typically 7 or 30 days. It is very important to be compliant with your contact lens care. Never sleep, swim or shower in your contact lenses.

Can LASIK, PRK, or implantable contact lenses fix myopia or hyperopia?

Yes, LASIK and PRK eye surgeries can help people see clearly if they have mild to moderate myopia or hyperopia. LASIK and PRK are permanent ways to correct vision that work by reshaping the cornea. Candidates for these surgeries must have a stable prescription, healthy corneas and realistic expectations, because reading glasses may sometimes still be needed. Implantable contact lenses (ICL) do not involve reshaping the cornea. Instead, intraocular lenses are placed between the iris and the cornea. For this surgery, a small slit is cut into the cornea in order to implant the lens. ICL surgery is considered permanent because the only way the lens can be removed is with another surgery.

Can myopia or hyperopia be cured or reversed?

There is no cure for myopia or hyperopia at the present time. However, contact lenses, glasses and eye surgery can restore clear vision.

Living With Myopia or Hyperopia Across the Lifespan

Myopia and hyperopia do cause vision issues. However, individuals with these refractive errors can still go to school, participate in sports, read screens and lead active, full lives.

How do myopia and hyperopia affect school, sports, and everyday life?

Myopia and hyperopia are refractive errors, and if they’re left uncorrected, children and adults could have trouble in school, while playing sports and while driving. Nearsighted kids may have trouble reading the board and playing sports. Farsighted kids may have trouble reading books and their phone or doing classwork on a computer or tablet. Eyeglasses and contact lenses can help kids and adults see clearly so that they can perform all of their daily activities.

How do age-related vision changes, like presbyopia and cataracts, interact with myopia or hyperopia?

Presbyopia and cataracts tend to compound existing refractive errors, like nearsightedness and farsightedness. For instance, if a person with hyperopia experiences presbyopia after the age of 40, reading may become more difficult. In fact, people with farsightedness and presbyopia often need reading glasses sooner than people their age who don’t have hyperopia.
Individuals with myopia already see well up close, so they may remove their distance glasses in order to read or look at their phone.
Cataracts cloud the lens of the eye, making it more difficult to see at every distance, whether you’re nearsighted or farsighted.

What simple habits help protect your vision if you’re nearsighted or farsighted?

If you’re nearsighted or farsighted, it’s important to develop habits to protect your vision, like:

Getting comprehensive eye exams every year or two
Ensuring your glasses or contacts are properly cleaned
Go outside more often to give your near vision a break
Give yourself a break at the computer by looking 20 feet away every 20 minutes for 20 seconds
Wear sunglasses when outside to protect your eyes from UV rays

When to See an Eye Doctor in Atlanta

If you’re nearsighted or farsighted, it’s important to keep your glasses or contact lens prescription up to date with annual eye exams. However, there are also times when you may need to schedule an appointment sooner.

What symptoms mean you should schedule an eye exam now?

Sudden or worsening blurry vision
Persistent and/or frequent headaches or eye strain
Trouble with school, work, or driving
Difficulty seeing at night

How can you find an eye exam or optometrist near you at Thomas Eye Group?

Thomas Eye Group has locations across Atlanta and in its suburbs. We have locations in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Cumming, Buford, Johns Creek and Marietta, as well as nearby cities and towns. Then, go to our Schedule an Appointment Page. You’ll be taken through a short questionnaire before being given the option of scheduling your adult or pediatric eye exam at a time that’s convenient for you.

What should you expect and bring to your appointment?

When you arrive at your scheduled appointment, make sure you bring your glasses or contacts and a copy of your prescription if you have it. Write down any new symptoms you might be having or concerns that you have so that you can ask questions. Our ophthalmologist may ask you about your medical history and/or any medications that you currently take. If your eyes are going to be dilated, you should bring sunglasses and arrange for someone to drive you to and from the appointment.

About April Hurley, O.D., F.A.A.O.

April Hurley, O.D., F.A.A.O., is a comprehensive optometrist at Thomas Eye Group’s Marietta East-Cobb location, with a special interest in ocular disease management. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Nova Southeastern University and completed a post-graduate ocular disease residency at the University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.