eyesight.health

Nearsighted vs farsighted

Written by the eyesight.health editorial teamBased on NEI, AAO and NHS sourcesLast reviewed: Next review:

Not medical advice. This guide is general information, not medical advice. See an optometrist or ophthalmologist about your eyes. How we write our guides.

If you are nearsighted (myopia), far-away things look blurry. If you are farsighted (hyperopia), nearby things look blurry. [1] Both happen when the shape of the eye focuses light in the wrong place. Both are usually corrected with glasses or contact lenses. [2][3]

At a glance

Nearsighted
Far-away objects look blurry. [1]
Farsighted
Nearby objects look blurry. [1]
On your prescription
A minus sign means nearsighted; a plus sign means farsighted. [4]
Treatment
Glasses or contact lenses; surgery for some adults. [2][3]

The main differences

Nearsighted (myopia)Farsighted (hyperopia)
What looks blurryFar-away things [1]Nearby things [1]
Where light focusesIn front of the retina [2]Behind the retina [3]
Eye shapeEyeball too long, or cornea or lens shape problems [2]Eyeball too short, or cornea or lens shape problems [3]
When it startsUsually between ages 6 and 14 [2]Usually present from birth, though it may not cause problems until later [3]
Common symptomsTrouble seeing far, squinting, eye strain [2]Trouble seeing up close, eye strain, headaches when reading [3]
Prescription signMinus (−) [4]Plus (+) [4]

The retina is the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye. The cornea is the clear front layer, and the lens is the part inside the eye that helps it focus. [2]

Why it happens

Both are refractive errors. That means the eye's shape keeps light from focusing correctly on the retina. [5] Both tend to run in families. You are at higher risk if family members are nearsighted or farsighted too. [2][3]

Mild cases may cause no symptoms, so regular eye exams matter. [2][3] Each one also has links to other problems:

  • People with severe nearsightedness may have a higher risk of retinal detachment. [2]
  • Children with severe farsightedness may have a higher risk of crossed eyes or amblyopia (lazy eye). [3]

Reading your glasses prescription

The AAO explains the main parts of an eyeglass prescription: [4]

  • Minus sign (−): nearsightedness. You see better up close and need distance correction.
  • Plus sign (+): farsightedness. You see better far away and need near correction.
  • Bigger numbers: the further a number is from zero, in either direction, the stronger the prescription.
  • SPH (sphere): the lens power needed to fix your vision.
  • CYL (cylinder): how much astigmatism you have, if any.
  • OD and OS: your right eye and left eye.

Is farsightedness the same as presbyopia?

Not quite. Presbyopia is the normal loss of close-up focus that comes with age, usually after 45. It happens because the lens gets stiffer. [6] NEI says presbyopia is different from farsightedness. [6]

The terms can overlap, though. The NHS lists a stiffer lens due to aging as one cause of long-sightedness, its term for farsightedness. [7] See our presbyopia guide.

Can you be both? Yes, in a way. A person may have one type of refractive error in one eye and a different type in the other. It is also common to have presbyopia along with another refractive error. [8] Astigmatism, which blurs both near and far vision, often comes with another refractive error too. [1]

How each is corrected

The most common treatments for both are glasses or contact lenses. [2][3] NEI says glasses are the simplest and safest way to correct refractive errors. [5]

Some adults choose surgery, which changes the shape of the cornea so it focuses light clearly. [2][3] The NHS notes that lens replacement surgery is another option for some people. [7] Ask your eye doctor whether surgery suits you.

When to see an eye doctor

Get urgent help now if

  • You suddenly see a lot of new floaters (small dark spots or squiggly lines that drift across your vision) [9]
  • You see flashes of light in one or both eyes [9]
  • A dark shadow or “curtain” appears at the side or in the middle of your vision. These can be signs of retinal detachment, which the National Eye Institute (NEI) calls a medical emergency. Go to your eye doctor or the emergency room right away. [9]

In the US, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. In other countries, call your local emergency number.

Make a routine appointment if

  • You are having trouble with your vision. NEI advises an eye exam. [5]
  • You or your child have signs of nearsightedness, or haven't had an eye test for 2 years. [10]
  • Your child fails a vision screening. [11]

An optometrist or ophthalmologist can check your eyes and tell you what is right for you.

Common questions

What does a minus prescription mean?

The AAO says a minus sign means nearsightedness. The further the number is from zero, the stronger the prescription. [4]

Can you be nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other?

Yes. NEI says a person may have one type of refractive error in one eye and a different type in the other. [8]

Is farsighted the same as presbyopia?

No. NEI says presbyopia is different from farsightedness. Presbyopia happens when the lens stiffens with age. [6]

Which is more common in children?

The AAO says nearsightedness is the most common vision problem in school-age children. NEI says most farsighted people are born with it. [11][3]

Sources

  1. National Eye Institute (NIH). “Types of Refractive Errors.” https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/refractive-errors/types-refractive-errors. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  2. National Eye Institute (NIH). “Nearsightedness (Myopia).” https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/nearsightedness-myopia. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  3. National Eye Institute (NIH). “Farsightedness (Hyperopia).” https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/farsightedness-hyperopia. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  4. American Academy of Ophthalmology. “How to Read an Eyeglasses Prescription.” https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/how-to-read-eyeglasses-prescription. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  5. National Eye Institute (NIH). “Refractive Errors.” https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/refractive-errors. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  6. National Eye Institute (NIH). “Presbyopia.” https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/presbyopia. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  7. NHS. “Long-sightedness.” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/long-sightedness/. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  8. National Eye Institute (NIH). “Presbyopia Fact Sheet (PDF).” https://www.nei.nih.gov/sites/default/files/health-pdfs/Presbyopia.pdf. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  9. National Eye Institute (NIH). “Retinal Detachment.” https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/retinal-detachment. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  10. NHS. “Short-sightedness (myopia).” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/short-sightedness/. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  11. American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Eye Screening for Children.” https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/children-eye-screening. Accessed 2026-11-05.

Content reviewed against sources listed. Last reviewed . This guide has not been reviewed by a clinician. Spotted a mistake? See our corrections policy.

Not medical advice. This guide is general information and does not replace an eye exam. For any concern about your eyes or vision, see an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

All eye-health guides