5 key differences between long-sightedness and short-sightedness

Good vision is essential for daily activities, whether one is reading, using a phone, watching TV, or just moving from one place to another.

Two common eyesight problems are long-sightedness and short-sightedness. Although they sound similar, they affect the eyes in very different ways.

In this article, Tribune Online explores key differences that can help you differentiate between the two. 

How vision is affected

• Long-sightedness (Hyperopia): Long-sighted individuals can see things far away clearly, but objects up close appear blurry. Light focuses behind the retina. 

• Short-sightedness (Myopia): Short-sighted individuals see near objects clearly, but things far away appear blurry. Light focuses in front of the retina. 

When it usually starts

 Long‑sightedness often appears in childhood and runs in families. Children may not notice it at first, as their eyes can sometimes adjust.

Short‑sightedness usually starts in children between the ages of 6 and 13 and often worsens as they grow into their late teens or early twenties.

Common symptoms

People with long-sightedness may struggle with reading, writing, or looking at their screens and often get eye strain or headaches.

Those with short-sightedness may have difficulty seeing the board at school, road signs, or the TV from a distance. 

How it happens 

Long-sightedness usually happens when the eyeball is too short or the cornea is too flat. Short-sightedness happens when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved.

How it’s corrected 

Long‑sightedness and short‑sightedness can be corrected using glasses, contact lenses, or surgery.

Glasses for long‑sightedness use convex lenses to move the focus forward onto the retina, while glasses for short‑sightedness use concave lenses to shift the focus back. 

Some people choose surgical options to reshape the cornea so that light focuses correctly.