When things start to look blurry, it’s a problem. Vision problems can develop due to all kinds of underlying factors. However, for adults, there are 3 common causes: myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia. But what do these mean, and what’s the difference between them?
Each of these is a refractive error. Typically, the differences are:
- Myopia makes distant objects appear blurry
- Hyperopia makes nearby objects appear blurry
- Presbyopia is an age-related change alters your eyes’ ability to focus at near-to-intermediate distances
While they may seem similar, they each impact vision differently.
What Are Refractive Errors?
Your eyes rely on light to create the images you see. Light enters the eye through the cornea and lens, before bending—or refracting—so it reaches the retina at the back of the eye. This process creates a clear, focused image, and it relies heavily on the shape of your eye.
When the eye is shaped properly, the light focuses on a single point on the retina. However, if it’s too long or short—or even shaped incorrectly—the light can’t reach the retina at the spot it should.
This is a refractive error, a condition interrupting how the eye refracts light. These problems are common, but they’re extremely frustrating. There are several types of refractive errors, but 3 of the most common are myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is caused by the eye growing too long or the cornea shaping too steeply. It makes light focus in front of the retina rather than on it. This makes it difficult to see distant objects, even though nearby objects stay clear.
Myopia is extremely common—it’s expected at least 30% of the population lives with nearsightedness. It develops due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Usually, myopia develops in early school years, progressively worsens through adolescence, before stabilizing in early adulthood.
The Common Signs of Nearsightedness
If you’re considered about a child’s vision, watch out for signs they struggle with everyday vision. The common signs of myopia include:
- Difficulty seeing objects at a distance
- Squinting to see clearly
- Frequent eye rubbing or blinking
- Complaints of headaches or eye strain
- Holding books or screens very close to their face
If these sound familiar, it’s time for an eye exam. Myopia is a manageable condition, and your optometrist can help your family preserve your child’s future vision.
What Is Hyperopia?
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is almost like the opposite of myopia. It develops when the eye is shorter than normal, or the cornea shaped flatter. This makes light focus at a point past the retina and distorts nearby vision.
This makes nearby tasks much more challenging. While you might easily spot something across the room, activities like reading or sewing can require some effort. Hyperopia is a little less common than myopia—many people have some degree of farsightedness and don’t realize it. Other than in our forties or older, our eye focusing muscles can force to overcome our hyperopia, but this will lead to strain and near vision discomfort.
Like myopia, hyperopia has significant genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
The Common Signs of Farsightedness
Farsightedness can be difficult to notice in a child. Rather than causing a person to squint when focusing at distances, hyperopia tends to cause symptoms such as:
- Blurred vision when looking at close objects
- Eye strain or discomfort after reading or nearby work
- Headaches, especially after prolonged periods of focus
- Difficulty concentrating on tasks that require near vision
Hyperopia can affect children as well as adults. However, the signs are often more difficult to spot in younger children. If you suspect your child may have farsightedness, schedule an eye exam with an optometrist. They can determine what’s causing your child’s symptoms and create a treatment plan going forward.
What Is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a little different than myopia or hyperopia. It’s entirely age-related and usually develops when you’re in your 40s. It affects the lens inside your eye—the clear tissue responsible for changing shape and helping you focus images.
When you’re younger, this lens is flexible. It easily adjusts as needed and helps you switch between nearby and distant vision. However, it stiffens over time, losing elasticity, and struggles to focus on nearby objects.
This is presbyopia. It’s expected to affect nearly 2 billion people across the globe. Fortunately, presbyopia is easy to treat—though you’ll need your optometrist’s help.
The Common Signs of Presbyopia
Presbyopia tends to develop subtly. As it progresses, you’ll likely notice:
- The need to hold reading material further away in your 40’s or older.
- Blurred vision during close-up tasks
- Difficulty shifting focus from far to near distances
- A need for brighter lighting during reading or detail work
While presbyopia tends to share symptoms with hyperopia, they are 2 different conditions. Hyperopia is about the eye’s shape, while presbyopia is tied to aging.
Presbyopia is highly treatable, as well. Your optometrist can prescribe corrective lenses or offer different vision correction options, including surgery if needed.
Working Together To Keep Your Vision Clear
Refractive errors like myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia are common. However, while they have some similarities, they’re 3 different conditions, each with its own causes and symptoms.
If you ever notice new vision problems, don’t ignore them. Instead, come talk to our team at Discover Eyecare. We can work closely with you to keep your vision clear, just like you deserve! Book an appointment with us today to take your first step towards clearer vision!
