Good vision is essential for performing daily tasks, whether you read a book, interact with people, or go to the office. Sometimes, eye refractive issues, such as myopia, hypermetropia, and presbyopia, disturb your ability to see near things or far.
As a result, these issues negatively affect your potential to do things and reduce your productivity. They happen due to malnutrition, an unhealthy lifestyle, excessive screen use, or old age.
However, the question is how you can overcome these issues and get your routine life back on track. Let us learn about the three most common eye refractive problems: myopia, hypermetropia, and presbyopia. We will discuss their causes, treatments, and key differences.
Myopia vs Hypermetropia vs Presbyopia: Key Differences
Eye problems happen when front eye structures do not bend light exactly onto the retina. The reason behind this improper functioning may differ, and that’s why their effects are also different.
Here, we have a complete discussion about three eye defects: presbyopia vs myopia vs hyperopia.
What is Myopia (Nearsightedness)?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is an eye problem that makes it difficult to see objects far away, but near objects look clear. This occurs when the size of the eyeball changes and becomes longer than usual, and the cornea becomes more curved. Due to this, light refracts in front of the retina instead of on the main focal point. That’s why distant objects appear unclear.
This refractive issue starts in childhood and worsens with age until the mid-20s.
Causes of Myopia
- The eyeball elongates and becomes slightly oval instead of round
- The cornea is overly curved, causing improper light refraction
Symptoms of Myopia
- Difficulty in seeing far-away objects
- Squinting your eyes to see clearly
- Frequent eye strain and fatigue, especially after visual tasks
- Headaches caused by overworking the eye muscles
What is Hypermetropia/Hyperopia (Farsightedness)?
Hypermetropia, or farsightedness, is an eye refractive issue entirely opposite to myopia. With this problem, people cannot see things near them clearly but can have a clear view of objects far away. In hyperopia, the eyeball becomes shorter than normal, and the light refracts behind the retina. That’s why the image of objects from a small distance becomes blurred.
Hypermetropia runs in genetics. Unlike myopia, it can affect people of every age. Kids with this issue can maintain their focus with a little effort, but adults need proper treatment.
Causes of Hypermetropia
- The eyeball becomes shorter than usual
- The cornea becomes flat and prevents good focus on the retina
Symptoms of Hypermetropia
- Blurry vision when viewing close objects
- Eye strain during reading or detailed work
- Frequent headaches after prolonged near-vision tasks
What is Presbyopia (Age-Related Vision Loss)?
Presbyopia is a natural process in which people start seeing things blurry when they turn 40 or older. This is not due to any specific reason, like diet or weakness. It happens because, with passing age, your eyeball becomes less flexible, and you cannot see closer objects clearly. For example, you may start reading a book or watching something by putting it a little distance from your eyes.
Presbyopia becomes more intense in dim light, and images become blurry. You can feel tired after work, during which time you can watch things from a very close eye. This can happen when everyone gets old, even if they have not had any eye issues before. You can cope with it simply by using reading glasses.
Causes of Presbyopia
- The lens of the eye loses flexibility over time.
- The lens hardens, reducing its ability to focus light onto the retina.
Symptoms of Presbyopia
- Difficulty focusing on nearby objects.
- Holding items farther away to see them.
- Eye strain and headaches, especially after close-up work.
- Struggling to read small print in low light.
Best Treatments for Myopia, Hypermetropia, and Presbyopia
Luckily, there are multiple choices to treat your eye problems. You can select the most suitable treatment depending on your budget, ease, and other preferences. However, we recommend consulting with your eye care doctor first.
Here are various treatments for Myopia, Hypermetropia, and Presbyopia:
For Myopia
The most common treatment for Myopia is using glasses or contact lenses. These treat farsightedness by refracting light on the retina at the right angle.
A second option is orthokeratology, which involves using lenses overnight that are made to reshape the cornea temporarily.
However, if you want a permanent solution to reshape your cornea, you can go for eye surgeries, such as LASIK and PRK.
For Hypermetropia
Just like Myopia, you can use glasses or contact lenses to treat hypermetropia temporarily and bend light at a right angle.
However, LASIK or LASEK eye surgeries are the best option for permanent solutions.
For Presbyopia
Besides using reading glasses, there are multiple temporary and permanent solutions for treating Presbyopia. For example, you can use specialized eye drops that increase the flexibility of your eye by reducing the hardness and help you to see more clearly.
For a permanent solution, you can undergo refractive lens exchange, replacing your rigid lens with a flexible new lens.
Can You Have More Than One Vision Condition?
Yes. It is possible, especially in old age, to have a combination of two eye problems. For example, adults can have both myopia and presbyopia and hypermetropia over 40 due to dry eyes or hardness in their eye structures. Bifocal or multifocal glasses are the best way to treat these collective errors temporarily. Moreover, you can also get LASIK monovision surgery for a comprehensive solution.
Bonus Tips for Preventing or Delaying Refractive Errors
- Spend more time outdoors, especially at an early age
- Reduce screen time
- Use proper light for reading or other working
- Use sunglasses to protect your eyes
- Take a balanced diet that contains vitamins A, C, and E.
- Stay hydrated to prevent dry eye and related strain
- Visit your eye care doctor for regular checkups
Choose Texan Eye Care for Your Vision Needs
At Texan Eye Care, we understand the importance of good vision in performing daily routine tasks effectively and how to provide comfortable treatment to restore your normal eyesight. With 25 years of experience, our eye care specialists know how to guide you and plan the best treatments for your eye needs.
Here is what makes us stand out:
- We are experts in LASIK and other vision-correcting surgeries.
- We offer detailed eye exams to catch problems early.
- We provide specialized care for conditions like glaucoma and corneal disorders.
- Our clinics are easy to reach, with Austin and Cedar Park locations.
Visit us and see the difference!
Final Words
The common eye problems discussed above are manageable and treatable with a little effort. Multiple treatments, from glasses and contact lenses to eye surgeries, can give you both temporary and permanent solutions.
Moreover, you can also prevent or delay eye problems with expert advice from eye care specialists. If you are suffering from blurred vision or eye strain, get professional care at Texan Eye Care. Our expert eye specialists will help you get clear vision back regardless of your age.
