Many of us don’t think twice about how clearly we see—until that clarity starts to slip. Whether you’re struggling to read road signs or watching your child squint at their homework, vision changes can raise questions and concerns. Two of the most common reasons for blurry vision are myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness).
While both are refractive errors, they affect how the eye focuses light in different ways. Myopia makes it hard to see far away, while hyperopia makes it harder to see up close.
What Is Myopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved. This causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. As a result, distant objects look blurry, while close-up ones remain clear. Myopia often starts in childhood and may get worse until early adulthood.
Common signs of myopia include:
- Difficulty reading street signs or seeing the whiteboard at school
- Squinting or eye strain
- Frequent headaches
- Worsening night vision
Myopia is becoming increasingly common—especially in kids. More screen time, less outdoor activity, and more time spent focusing on close-up tasks like reading and homework are all believed to contribute to this rise.
Fortunately, if your child has myopia, there are treatments available to slow its progression. These include options myopia control eyeglasses and/or contact lenses, as well as low-dose atropine eyedrops.
What Is Hyperopia?
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is the opposite of myopia. It occurs when the eyeball is too short or the cornea lacks enough curvature, causing light to focus behind the retina. People with hyperopia can typically see faraway objects clearly, but struggle to focus on things close up.
Symptoms of hyperopia include:
- Blurred vision while reading or using a phone
- Eye strain or tired eyes after doing close work
- Headaches, especially after screen time or reading
- Difficulty concentrating
Hyperopia is fairly common in children, but many outgrow it as their eyes mature. In more severe cases, or when the eyes struggle to compensate for the refractive error, hyperopia can also interfere with development—especially when it comes to reading, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.
Myopia vs. Hyperopia: What’s the Difference?
Though both myopia and hyperopia cause blurry vision, they affect daily life in different ways. Myopia, or nearsightedness, makes it difficult to see things far away—like a whiteboard in class or road signs while driving.
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, does the opposite, making close-up tasks like reading or using a phone more challenging.
Myopia typically begins in childhood and may worsen with age, while hyperopia is also common in kids but often improves as their eyes develop. These conditions are rooted in the shape of the eye: myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina. In hyperopia, conversely, the eyeball is too short or the cornea too flat, which causes light to focus behind the retina.
Fortunately, both conditions can be effectively corrected with the right lenses—concave for myopia and convex for hyperopia—and managed with personalized eye care.
Vision in Children: Why It Matters
Children may not always be able to tell you they can’t see clearly. That’s why regular eye exams are so important. Myopia in children tends to get worse as they grow, and early intervention can help reduce risks associated with high myopia, like retinal detachment or glaucoma later in life.
Hyperopia in children is often less noticeable. Mild cases may not cause symptoms, but more significant hyperopia can cause eye strain, reading delays, or even amblyopia (lazy eye) if not addressed.
Myopia control strategies are designed specifically for children and may include special glasses, contact lenses, or atropine eye drops to help slow the progression of nearsightedness over time.
How Are These Conditions Corrected?
Correction and management of myopia and hyperopia depend on your age, lifestyle, and how severe the condition is. Options may include:
- Myopia Control Eyeglasses: More than just vision correction, these specially designed lenses help slow down the progression of myopia. By easing eye strain and optimizing how light enters the eye, they offer both comfort and long-term benefits. Our team can help you choose frames and lenses that match your child’s needs and lifestyle.
- MiSight® 1 Day Contact Lenses: A clinically proven option for managing myopia in children. These soft, daily disposable lenses not only correct vision but also significantly slow myopia progression. Designed for comfort and easy handling, even children as young as 8 years old can confidently wear them.
- Abiliti™ 1-Day Lenses: These daily contact lenses are designed to both correct nearsightedness and help slow its progression. Using advanced optics to gently reshape how light focuses in the eye, they’re a great option for active children and teens looking for a glasses-free solution. Plus, the daily format means no cleaning or maintenance.
- Atropine Eye Drops: A low-dose treatment used at bedtime to help slow down the development of myopia in children. Atropine works by reducing the eye’s focusing strain, helping to prevent further elongation of the eyeball—a key factor in worsening myopia. Safe, easy to use, and often combined with other treatments, atropine drops are a flexible solution for long-term eye health.
Take the Next Step Toward Clearer Vision
Understanding the differences between myopia and hyperopia can help you make informed decisions about your and/or your child’s vision care. Fortunately, both conditions are manageable with the right tools and support. At Dr. Rehana Manji & Associates, we offer personalized eye care for the whole family, including children’s eye exams, myopia control solutions, and specialty lenses to meet your visual needs. If you or your child is experiencing blurry vision or eye strain, contact us today to schedule a comprehensive eye exam. Clear, comfortable sight may be closer than you think.