Myopia And Hyperopia: Everything You Need To Know

By Author: Tatum Eyecare
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Myopia and Hyperopia are fancy, intimidating words to some people. Bu did you know that according to the National Eye Institute, approximately 150 million people have refractive errors like myopia and hyperopia? If myopia and hyperopia are so common, why haven’t more people heard about them?

Chances are, you have. Myopia and hyperopia are really just fancy ways to say “nearsightedness” and “farsightedness,” respectively. There, no more intimidation! However, for the hundreds of millions of Americans of all ages living with myopia and hyperopia, this clarity does not mitigate the struggle to see clearly either up close or at a distance.

To begin, let’s discuss the difference between hyperopia and myopia… and then let’s dive into everything else you need to know about all four major refractive errors.
This image shows the basic structure of the eye with the three main layers visible. Artwork by Holly Fisher, University of Michigan

Myopia and hyperopia are both classified as “refractive errors” and not eye diseases. For someone who sees within the normal field and scope of vision, ...
... light bounces off of an object and then passes through their corneas, then their pupils in the center of the iris, and then through the lenses inside of their eyes.

In this way, the iris acts as nature’s camera lenses, by automatically opening and closing to adjust the total amount of light entering the eyes. However, if you have a refractive error, the natural shape of your eye causes light to focus inaccurately onto your retina.

This “error” can cause myopia (most common), hyperopia (less common… even astigmatisms and presbyopia, which we will discuss in a little bit. For the moment though, the main differences between hyperopia and myopia are that:

Myopia affects approximately 40% of the population. It is generally diagnosed in children between 8 to 12 years of age, and generally stabilizes between the ages of 20 and 40.
Hyperopia is much less common, affecting between 5% to 10% of the population. It can go undiagnosed in childhood, which makes it more prevalent in adults.

Now that we have a basic understanding of these two refractive errors, let’s discuss what causes nearsightedness, or myopia.
What Causes Nearsightedness, or Myopia?
The cause of nearsightedness, or myopia, is the length of the eyeball. Nearsightedness develops when the eyeball is too long. This causes light rays to land in front of the retina, rather than focusing precisely on the retina. Nearsightedness is genetically shared, so children diagnosed with myopia generally have parents who are also nearsighted.
What Causes Farsightedness, or Hyperopia?
The cause of farsightedness, or hyperopia, is also the length of the eyeball. Because hyperopia is the opposite of myopia, hyperopia develops when the eyeball is too short. This causes light rays to focus behind the retina. Similar to nearsightedness, farsighted children generally have farsighted parents. However, some children who are born farsighted can actually “outgrow” this refractive error, as their eyeball grows and lengthens during the natural aging process.
Signs and Symptoms of Hyperopia
There are two primary types of age-related Macular Degeneration: Wet Form and Dry Form. By performing a retinal eye scan, your optometrist can detect both form
The signs and symptoms of hyperopia are easy to spot. People with hyperopia can see objects very well if they are far away, but objects nearby or close-up appear blurry. This can include when you are watching television, movies, operating a motor vehicle, or doing anything else that requires short-range vision. At close range, signs and symptoms of hyperopia can manifest as eye strain or fatigue, headaches and squinting… as well as halos around lights, and even double vision in more severe cases.

If you experience any signs or symptoms of hyperopia while wearing your glasses or contact lenses, we recommend scheduling an eye exam with your trusted eye care provider to see if a different prescription can help.
The signs and symptoms of myopia are also easy to spot. People with myopia can see objects very well if they are up close, but objects at a distance appear blurry. This can include when you are reading, using a smartphone, tablet or computer, driving, watching television or a movie, or anything else that requires long-range vision. Other signs and symptoms of myopia include eye strain and fatigue, headaches and squinting… as well as halos around lights, and even double vision in more severe cases.

If you experience any of these signs or symptoms of myopia while wearing your glasses or contact lenses, we recommend scheduling an eye exam with your trusted eye care provider to see if a different prescription can help.visit Tatum Eyecare for more information