Do you ever get confused about nearsightedness and farsightedness? You're not alone! These two conditions are often mixed up, but understanding the difference can help you take better care of your eyes.
What confuses most people about these conditions, is that the name is the opposite of the distance the individual finds difficult to see. To put it simply, nearsightedness is a condition that makes it difficult for people to see at a distance, whereas farsightedness is a condition that makes it difficult for people to see up close. Both conditions are extremely common and, as luck would have it, very treatable!
So, what is nearsightedness... Nearsightedness, medically understood as myopia, is when you can see nearby objects clearly, but things in the distance are blurry. It happens when your eye is too long - meaning that the eyeball itself is longer than it should be - or your cornea is too curved, both of these abnormalities in the eye cause light to focus in front of the retina instead of on it. So, if you're struggling to read a road sign or see a movie screen, you might be nearsighted!
On the other hand, farsightedness, or hyperopia, is when you can see faraway objects clearly, but close-up things are blurry. This occurs when your eye is too short or your cornea is too flat, causing light to focus behind the retina. If you find yourself struggling to read a book or use your phone without squinting, you might be farsighted.
(image taken from Warby Parker)
While similar, each condition is produced by different causes. In the case of farsightedness, people tend to be born with it but may not notice its effects until they're older; however, nearsightedness has both biological and environmental causes. Nearsightedness in particular has become more common in recent years as our society moves towards a more "indoor" and screen-focused way of living. Screens in particular, can cause eye strain as well as fatigue and disrupts the natural focusing process of the eyes - this is especially relevant as so many of us use screens up close for work or when on our phones. Research has shown that spending more time outside, particularly in natural light, can slowdown the onset and progression of myopia.
So... how might you determine if you have one of these conditions?
Well, first, let's differentiate the symptoms of these two conditions.
Nearsighted symptoms may look like...
Blurry vision when looking at objects or writing thats far away (like a board in a classroom or writing on a boardroom presentation)
Needing to squint to see properly
Headaches caused by strain on your eyes
Difficulty seeing when driving a car (this can include reading signs and license plates, or looking ahead at whats happening on the road)
Farsighted symptoms may look like...
Strain on the eyes when looking at something up close
Blurry vision while looking at close-up text or objects
Aching or burning sensation around the eyes
Getting headaches after reading or performing tasks that require up-close focus
If you're experiencing any vision problems, make sure to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam. They can help you determine if you have nearsightedness, farsightedness, or maybe even both, and recommend the best treatment options for you.
Many doctors will recommend glasses as the primary choice for correcting these vision conditions and to prevent them from getting worse. The difference between the glasses you may be prescribed depends on whether you're nearsighted or farsighted and the severity of your condition.
Glasses for those who have a nearsighted condition are designed with concave lenses that are thinner in the middle of the lens and thicker in the corners. These lenses make the wearers eyes appear smaller and correct the way light enters the eye, helping to focus distant images properly on the retina.
Farsighted glasses act as a magnifying glass, making objects appear bigger and therefore provide a clearer image. These lenses are thicker in the center and thin at the edges, the higher the prescription the more magnification is observed. For this reason, the eyes of people who wear prescription glasses for farsightedness appear enlarged.
If you're looking for glasses to correct either of these conditions, we can help! Head to KITS, choose your favourite frames, add your prescription, and we will take care of the rest! Plus, feel confident in your decision to shop online with free 30-day returns and a 365-day happiness guarantee!
Understanding your eyes and the conditions that affect them is key to maintaining good vision. So, whether you're nearsighted, farsighted, or have perfect vision, take care of your eyes and enjoy the view!