{"id":5825,"date":"2026-05-14T16:26:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T16:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/?p=5825"},"modified":"2026-05-14T16:50:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T16:50:41","slug":"how-to-tell-if-you-are-nearsighted-or-farsighted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/how-to-tell-if-you-are-nearsighted-or-farsighted\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Tell If You Are Nearsighted or Farsighted"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5825\" class=\"elementor elementor-5825\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a1d0ec3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a1d0ec3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c906a8e\" data-id=\"c906a8e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1cb1c7 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"f1cb1c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:130,&quot;sticky_parent&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;,&quot;h4&quot;,&quot;h5&quot;,&quot;h6&quot;],&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile&quot;],&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__f1cb1c7\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__f1cb1c7\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__f1cb1c7\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1b1ed2f\" data-id=\"1b1ed2f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b135172 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b135172\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Blurry vision is one of the clearest signs that your eyes need correction, but knowing whether you are nearsighted or farsighted makes a difference in how that correction works. Both are refractive errors, meaning the eye does not focus light the way it should. They affect opposite ends of your vision and are corrected differently, whether you wear <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/contacts\/\" title=\"contact lenses\">contact lenses<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyeglasses\/\" title=\"glasses\">glasses<\/a>, or both.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78899dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"78899dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Is Nearsightedness?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55d4112 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"55d4112\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Nearsightedness, or myopia, means close objects are clear and distant ones are blurry. You can read a book without trouble but might struggle to see a scoreboard, read a street sign, or recognize a face across the room.<\/p><p>The cause is structural. Light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina instead of landing directly on it. This happens when the eyeball grows slightly too long or when the cornea curves more steeply than it should. Myopia is one of the most common vision conditions worldwide, affecting up to 50 percent of adults in some populations. It typically develops in childhood and progresses through the teenage years.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a545d96 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a545d96\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Is Farsightedness?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63ff7c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"63ff7c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is the opposite condition. Distance vision is usually clear, but close-up tasks like reading, writing, and screen use all cause strain, blurring, and headaches.<\/p><p>Light focuses behind the retina rather than directly on it. This happens when the eyeball is shorter than average or the cornea is too flat to bend light correctly. Hyperopia is usually present at birth and can be inherited. Mild farsightedness can go undetected for years because younger eyes compensate by working harder to focus. That compensation becomes more difficult with age, which is why symptoms tend to appear or worsen in adulthood.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c89a2d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c89a2d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Nearsighted vs. Farsighted Side by Side<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87395dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"87395dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ast-table-wrap\">\n  <table class=\"ast\">\n    <thead>\n      <tr>\n        <th><\/th>\n        <th>Nearsighted (Myopia)<\/th>\n        <th>Farsighted (Hyperopia)<\/th>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/thead>\n    <tbody>\n      <tr>\n        <td><span class=\"badge badge-label\">Clear Vision<\/span><\/td>\n        <td>Up close<\/td>\n        <td>At a distance<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td><span class=\"badge badge-label\">Blurry Vision<\/span><\/td>\n        <td>Far away<\/td>\n        <td>Up close<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td><span class=\"badge badge-label\">Eye Shape<\/span><\/td>\n        <td>Too long or cornea too curved<\/td>\n        <td>Too short or cornea too flat<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td><span class=\"badge badge-label\">Light Focus<\/span><\/td>\n        <td>In front of the retina<\/td>\n        <td>Behind the retina<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td><span class=\"badge badge-label\">When It Develops<\/span><\/td>\n        <td>Often in childhood<\/td>\n        <td>Often present from birth<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td><span class=\"badge badge-label\">Common Symptoms<\/span><\/td>\n        <td>Squinting, headaches, sitting close to screens<\/td>\n        <td>Eye strain, headaches, difficulty reading<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/tbody>\n  <\/table>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4a1c2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e4a1c2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Symptoms of Nearsightedness and Farsightedness\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b218be1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b218be1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Nearsightedness and farsightedness share some symptoms but each has distinct signs worth knowing.<\/p><ul><li>Myopia symptoms include blurry distance vision, squinting, sitting close to screens or the television, and headaches after driving or watching a game<\/li><li>Hyperopia symptoms include blurry close-up vision, eye strain during reading or screen use, headaches after close-up tasks, and holding books or phones further away to focus<\/li><\/ul><p>Children rarely report vision problems on their own. Watch for squinting, sitting too close to screens, frequent eye rubbing, or difficulty reading at school. Early detection makes correction much simpler.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4155aaf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4155aaf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How Glasses Correct Nearsightedness and Farsightedness<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32b11ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"32b11ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Glasses work by placing a corrective lens in front of the eye to redirect light before it enters. For myopia, glasses use concave lenses that spread light slightly outward, shifting the focal point back onto the retina. For hyperopia, convex lenses bend light inward to move the focal point forward so it lands where it should.<\/p><p>The prescription number on your glasses tells you the strength of correction needed. A minus sign indicates myopia. A plus sign indicates hyperopia. The further the number from zero, the stronger the lens required.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e0251f7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e0251f7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f3e80f1\" data-id=\"f3e80f1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb6b004 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb6b004\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Contact lenses work the same way as glasses but sit directly on the cornea. This gives them a wider field of corrected vision since the lens moves with your eye rather than staying fixed in a frame.<\/p><p>Contacts for myopia shift the focal point backward onto the retina. Contacts for hyperopia do the opposite, moving the focal point forward. Single-vision lenses cover the majority of prescriptions for both conditions. Daily disposables are a convenient option since each day starts with a fresh lens. Silicone hydrogel lenses allow more oxygen through to the cornea, a solid choice for people who wear contacts for long stretches of the day.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2447a63\" data-id=\"2447a63\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52262d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"52262d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/nearsighted-farsighted-1024x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5828\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/nearsighted-farsighted-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/nearsighted-farsighted-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/nearsighted-farsighted-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/nearsighted-farsighted-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/nearsighted-farsighted.png 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-edfcb28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"edfcb28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Can You Be Both Nearsighted and Farsighted?\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d51014 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d51014\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It is possible, though uncommon. Each eye can develop independently, and in rare cases one eye is nearsighted while the other is farsighted. Astigmatism can also occur alongside either condition, requiring toric lenses or glasses with a cylindrical correction.<\/p><p>As people age, a condition called presbyopia develops on top of any existing refractive error. Presbyopia affects the eye&#8217;s ability to focus on close objects and is a normal part of aging, usually becoming noticeable from the mid-40s onward. Bifocal or progressive glasses and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/contacts\/bifocal-lenses\/\" title=\"Multifocal Contact Lenses\">multifocal contact lenses<\/a> handle both near and distance correction, removing the need to switch between pairs.<\/p><p>Once you have a current prescription, 1-800GetLens carries contact lenses for myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. If you are also looking for glasses, your prescription works for both.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a42771b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a42771b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">References<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c84cfc0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c84cfc0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Optometric Association. Myopia. AOA.org. 2023.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Optometric Association. Hyperopia. AOA.org. 2023.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Academy of Ophthalmology. Farsightedness Hyperopia. AAO.org. 2023.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holden BA, et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia. Ophthalmology. 2016.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blurry vision at certain distances could mean myopia or hyperopia. Learn what each means and what your contact lens prescription means.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":5826,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"semantictags":[],"class_list":["post-5825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5825"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5834,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5825\/revisions\/5834"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5825"},{"taxonomy":"semantictags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.1800getlens.com\/eyetopics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/semantictags?post=5825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}