Myopia Vs. Hyperopia

Myopia and Hyperopia Difference

Myopia and hyperopia are both refractive errors that can affect one’s ability to perceive people and objects at varying distances. They can affect people of all ages and can range in severity.

What is Hyperopia?

Hyperopia is an eye condition where close-up objects appear out of focus, more commonly known as farsightedness. The most common symptom of hyperopia is difficulty doing near work such as reading or threading a needle.

If you can see objects far away clearly but are having trouble seeing things close to you, this may be an indication that you have hyperopia.

What is Myopia?

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a condition where far-away objects appear out of focus. A common symptom of myopia is when you have trouble seeing things at a distance such as the board in school or street signs while driving.

Myopia tends to be ignored at first as it is often confused with the objects being too far away to see clearly.

Treating Myopia and Hyperopia 

There are two standard methods to treat both myopia and hyperopia. The first is by wearing personalized glasses or contacts. EyeQue offers several products that allow you to test your vision from home, including the VisionCheck. Our devices determine if you’re myopic or hyperopic and will generate custom EyeGlass Numbers (EGNs) for you. You can then use your EGNs to order new glasses!

Another option you can choose is LASIK or refractive eye surgery. While it is a more expensive option, it does allow you to do daily tasks without using any external accommodations. Not everyone is a candidate for refractive surgery, but it is a treatment option you can discuss with your ophthalmologist.

Are These Conditions Preventable?

While myopia and hyperopia are not preventable, there are ways you can identify the problem early and slow its progression (myopia control). You can identify signs that you might need glasses by regularly testing your vision. Conveniently, our at-home vision testing devices allow you to test as frequently as you would like.