Nearsightedness vs Farsightedness: What's the Difference?

Nearsightedness and farsightedness are some of the most common forms of vision problems amongst patients at our Calgary eye clinic. Here’s the difference between myopia and hyperopia, and how our Calgary eye doctor can help correct them to improve your vision and quality of life.

Just as with annual physical examinations, it’s equally important to have regular eye exams with your Calgary eye doctor. More frequent visits to your eye clinic may be required if you suffer from eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy. 

It’s important to visit your eye doctor on a regular basis because they can perform comprehensive eye exams that will allow them to: 

• Check for early signs of serious eye conditions
• Detect signs of health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes 
• Update the prescription for your eyeglasses or contact lenses 
• Provide advice on how to achieve and maintain optimal eye health 

Our Calgary Eye Doctors Provide Comprehensive Eye Exams to Protect Your Vision 

At our Calgary eye clinic, our eye doctors offer a variety of eye health services, including eye exams, cataract management, glaucoma testing, and emergency eye care. Our team can also help you pick out the perfect pair of eyeglasses to suit your preferences and lifestyle. 

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Nearsightedness vs Farsightedness: What’s the Difference? 

Nearsightedness and farsightedness are some of the most common vision problems found among patients around the world. While both are refractive errors, they affect vision in different ways. 

Nearsightedness (Myopia) 

Nearsightedness, or myopia, occurs when light entering your eye doesn’t focus properly on the retina. Instead, the light falls short, usually because the eyeball has grown too long. As a result, distant objects will appear blurry, but close-up vision is not affected. 

Farsightedness (Hyperopia) 

With farsightedness (hyperopia), the eyeball is either too short, or there is not enough curvature of the lens for objects to focus properly. Light will focus at a point beyond the retina, instead of in front of the retina or directly on its surface, causing blurry vision up close. 

Hyperopia is less common than myopia and is also much harder to detect during common vision screenings. However, during a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor can detect farsightedness, which is why regular visits to your optometrist are so important. 

Symptoms of Farsightedness and Nearsightedness

Both myopia and hyperopia share some common symptoms and it’s important to keep an eye on your or your child’s vision and watch out for any of the following signs: 

• Headaches
• Eyestrain 
• Eye fatigue 
• Constant squinting to see clearly 

If you or a family member is experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should book an eye exam with your optometrist for a diagnosis. 

How Are These Refractive Errors Treated? 

Both nearsightedness and farsightedness can be treated with corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses. During a consultation, your eye doctor can help determine which option is best for you. 

Want to switch from eyeglasses to contact lenses or are you thinking about replacing your eyeglasses with contact lenses? During a contact lens fitting, your eye doctor can help determine which lens is right for you, show you how to insert and take out your contact lenses, and provide you with lens care instructions to lower your risk of infection. 

4 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE SWITCHING TO CONTACT LENSES 

LASIK Eye Surgery 

Many people find that their nearsightedness or farsightedness stabilizes once they are older. When there is no more change in refractive error, then LASIK eye surgery could be a good option to permanently correct myopia or hyperopia. 

During a LASIK eye surgery consultation with your eye doctor, they can conduct an eye exam to help determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure. 

LASER EYE SURGERY CONSULTATION 

Call Us Today

If you are experiencing any changes to your vision, or you have questions about contact lenses, laser eye surgery, or anything else regarding your ocular health, contact our Calgary optometrists at 403-280-7518 or fill in our online contact form.