OPHTHALMOLOGY

Q:What is the difference between nearsighted and farsightedness? Is it the same in both eyes? Can it be helped with glasses or contact lenses? How does it affect cataract surgery?

A:Nearsightedness and farsightedness are two very common vision conditions referred to as refractive errors; a problem with how the eye focuses light. Normally, as light enters the eye, it is focused directly onto the retina, the light sensitive portion at the back of the eye. A person with normal vision can see objects clearly at both near and distance.

When a person is nearsighted, or myopic, the light rays entering the eye focus in front of the retina because the eye is too long. As a result, this person sees better at near and distance objects are blurry. Nearsightedness often develops during childhood, worsens during adolescence, and stabilizes during young adulthood.

When a person is farsighted, or hyperopic, the lights rays entering the eye focus behind the retina because the eye is too short. As a result, this person generally sees better at distance and near objects are blurry. When there is a high amount of hyperopia, objects at all distances will appear blurry. Children are usually born farsighted and this decreases with age.

Generally, both eyes are the same, nearsighted or farsighted. While unusual, there is a condition called anisometropia where one eye is nearsighted, and one eye is farsighted or there is just a large difference in the prescription between the two eyes. Your eye doctor can diagnose and assess your refractive error during a comprehensive eye exam using various instruments to measure how your eye focuses light and your overall visual acuity. These refractive errors can be treated with corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses. The lenses work by refracting or changing the way light rays bend into the eyes. In many cases, these conditions stabilize once people are in their twenties. Your eye doctor can also answer your questions about these conditions and help determine and recommend the best treatment option whether that is prescription glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery such as LASIK or PRK. When there is a stable eyeglass or contact lens prescription, LASIK and PRK are two surgical procedures that can permanently correct myopia or hyperopia by reshaping the cornea so that light focuses directly on the retina which can eliminate the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. When it is time for cataract surgery, there are a wide variety of replacement lenses to choose from including multifocal and toric lenses along with additional high precision laser technology that together can provide customized options for enhanced and optimized visual outcomes.

As with any eye condition, early diagnosis along with regular eye exams will help to determine the proper treatment for your eyes so that you can have the best potential for clear vision.