Myopia vs. Hyperopia

Myopia and hyperopia are common — but essentially opposite — types of vision problems. The biggest difference between them is where objects appear in focus. People with myopia (nearsightedness) see nearby objects more clearly. People with hyperopia (farsightedness) see distant objects more clearly.

Conversely, nearsightedness makes distant objects look blurry. Farsightedness blurs objects that are close to you. The difference between being nearsighted or farsighted is a matter of where light focuses inside the eye.

After light enters our eye through the pupil, it needs to be neatly focused on the retina in the back of the eye. When light enters the eye and does not focus properly on the retina, it causes blurry vision.

The medical term for nearsightedness is myopia. In a nearsighted eye, light focuses too far in front of the retina, instead of directly on it. 

This usually happens because the eyeball has grown too long from front to back. But it can also be due to the shape or location of the cornea and lens in the eye.

When light focuses in front of the retina, distant objects look blurry and nearby objects look clearer.

Nearsightedness usually develops during childhood and gets progressively worse throughout adolescence. It then stabilizes during early adulthood. Children who have progressive myopia may need specialized glasses, contacts or eye drops to slow the progression. This is called myopia control.

About four times as many people have myopia versus hyperopia. Approximately 40% of Americans are nearsighted, while only 5-10% are farsighted.

SEE RELATED: Why myopia progression in children is a growing concern

The medical term for farsightedness is hyperopia. It's the opposite of nearsightedness. Hyperopia is usually caused by an eyeball that's too short, causing light to focus behind the retina. 

Farsightedness usually only makes close objects look blurry, and mild cases might not affect vision at all. In young children, the eyes’ accommodation system may be able to overcome small amounts of hyperopia. 

However, high levels of hyperopia can cause objects at all distances to appear out of focus. 

Most children are born with hyperopia, meaning they are farsighted at birth. Childhood hyperopia typically improves as the eyes grow and develop.

Myopia and hyperopia are both types of refractive errors — slight variations in the eye that affect its ability to focus light. These variations are quite common, similar to differences in height.

Nearsightedness and farsightedness are both easily corrected with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. LASIK, PRK and other refractive surgeries can also correct refractive errors. They are good options once vision stabilizes, usually in a person’s early 20s.

If left uncorrected, the two types of refractive error can also share common signs and symptoms, including:

• Squinting to see clearly

• Fatigued, “tired” eyes and eye rubbing

• Eye strain and headaches

If you experience any of these symptoms, be sure to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with an eye doctor.

READ MORE: How to manage myopia and slow its progression