Myopia and Hyperopia

What is Myopia? What is Hyperopia?

Myopia and hyperopia are refractive errors caused by the eye’s inability to focus light properly. Myopia causes the eye to see objects at far distances blurred, while hyperopia makes it difficult to see objects at close distances clearly. Both conditions are caused by imbalances in the refractive power of the eye. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the differences between these two common visual impairments, their diagnostic methods and symptoms.

What is the difference between myopia and hyperopia?

Myopia and hyperopia are caused by differences in the structure of the eyeball. Myopia occurs because the eyeball is longer than normal. In this case, light rays are focused in front of the retina, resulting in blurred vision of distant objects. In the case of hyperopia, on the other hand, the eyeball is shorter than normal and the light rays are focussed behind the retina. This results in blurred vision of nearby objects.

People who are nearsighted are usually comfortable with close activities such as reading a book or using a computer, while farsighted people can see far distances clearly. However, in very severe hyperopia, both near and far distances may not be seen clearly. In short, the main difference between these two conditions is where on the retina the focal point of the eye is located: in front in myopes and behind in hyperopes.

What does it mean to be both myopic and hyperopic?

Being both myopic and hyperopic means having a combination of myopia in one eye and hyperopia in the other eye. This condition is also known as anisometropia, where both eyes have different refractive errors. In such a case, one eye cannot see objects clearly at far distances, while the other eye has difficulty at close distances.

This problem often requires specialised solutions to individual visual needs. It is a condition that should be handled with special attention and sensitivity by the ophthalmologist.

How is myopia diagnosed?

Diagnosis of myopia usually begins with an eye examination. The ophthalmologist performs various tests to assess the patient’s visual acuity. These tests include a distance vision test using a Snellen chart. If a person cannot clearly read the rows of the chart that need to be read at a certain distance, there is a high probability that they are myopic.

The details of the eye’s refractive error are then examined by methods such as retinoscopy and autorefractometry. These tests help the ophthalmologist to determine how the eye refracts light rays and the power of the necessary correction lenses.

What are the Symptoms of Hyperopia?

Symptoms of hyperopia are manifested by visual difficulties, especially at close distances. In this case, individuals with hyperopia may have difficulty with activities such as reading books or reading text on devices such as mobile phones. Symptoms often manifest as eye strain, headaches and difficulty focusing on close objects.

In children and young adults, the eyes often have to work harder to compensate for hyperopia, which can lead to eye strain and headaches. Prolonged eye strain can cause spasms in the eye muscles and in some cases even more serious problems such as double vision.

Symptoms such as redness, watering and inward shift of the eye can also be seen in hyperopia. These people often have difficulty focusing on objects at close distances, while they can see far distances clearly.

Hyperopia often goes unnoticed during childhood because young eyes can automatically correct the condition. However, as age progresses, this ability decreases and the symptoms become more pronounced. Early diagnosis and treatment by taking these symptoms into consideration is very important for eye health.