Myopia, Hyperopia, & Astigmatism

Introduction  

Farsightedness and nearsightedness, medically known as hyperopia and myopia respectively, are common vision conditions that affect how well we see objects at different distances. These conditions are not eye diseases but rather refractive errors, meaning they affect how the eyes focus light. If you are nearsighted, you can see well up close but have difficulty seeing objects at a distance. On the other hand, if you are farsighted, your vision may be sharp at a distance but poor up close. 

About Nearsightedness (Myopia) 

Nearsightedness, or myopia, is a condition where close-up objects appear clear, but distant objects are blurry. This happens when the shape of the eye causes light rays to focus in front of the retina, a light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of the eye, instead of directly on it. Symptoms of myopia may include difficulty seeing faraway objects clearly, having to squint to see clearly, eyestrain, and headaches. It usually develops during childhood and adolescence and tends to run in families. Treatments for myopia include concave eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. 

About Farsightedness (Hyperopia) 

Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a condition where distant objects are seen clearly, but nearby objects appear blurred. This occurs when the eyeball is too short, or the cornea has too little curvature, causing light to focus behind the retina instead of directly on it. Symptoms of hyperopia include difficulty focusing on nearby objects, headaches, eyestrain, and the need to squint to see clearly. Children with severe farsightedness are at the risk of other eye problems, such as crossed eyes or amblyopia (lazy eye). Like myopia, hyperopia can also be corrected with convex eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. 

Remember, regular eye exams are important for timely diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. If you notice any changes in your vision, it’s recommended to consult with an eye care specialist. 

About Astigmatism 

Astigmatism is a condition when your cornea (the clear front layer of our eye) or lens (an inner part of your eye that helps the eye focus) has a different shape than normal. Astigmatism often occurs simultaneously with either myopia or hyperopia. This makes your vision blurry or distorted, since this problem causes multiple focal points in the eye. Symptoms of astigmatism include blurry vision, needing to squint to see clearly, headaches, eye strains, or trouble seeing at night. If you have mild astigmatism, you won’t realize that you have this problem. This is why it is important to have regular eye exams. This is especially important for children who are not likely to realize that their vision is not normal. Similarly to myopia and hyperopia, eyeglasses or contact lenses might help you see better. Some people can also get surgery to fix their astigmatism. 

Causes and Prevention 

Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism all have similar causes. One common cause is genetics. If one of your parents or both of your parents have any eye problems, for example myopia, your risk of also having the same problem is greatly increased. Since your family line has an eye problem, you can’t do anything to prevent it. However, there is a lot you can do to stop your eye problem from increasing, or if you don’t have any eye problems, or get the eye problem.  

References 

Nearsightedness (myopia) 

• https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/nearsightedness-myopia 

Farsightedness (hyperopia) 

• https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/farsightedness-hyperopia 

Astigmatism: 

• https://isaacs-optom.com/examination-for-kids-4/