Although it may seem like a simple concept, there are many people who are unaware of the differences associated with being nearsighted and farsighted. The majority of individuals are unaware of how they may affect their vision and if there will be any future issues that they will have to deal with. The main biological difference associated with being nearsighted and farsighted is that in nearsighted individuals, images are focussed in the front of the retina whereas in those who are farsighted, images are focused behind the retina.
How Being Farsighted and Nearsighted Affects Your Vision
In people who are nearsighted, objects that are closer to you are clearer and things that are far away are blurry to where you may have to squint to see them. You will notice if you are nearsighted if you find yourself squinting to see the TV or a street sign that is across the road that you are driving on. The majority of people who are nearsighted figure this out during their time at school as they are unable to read the blackboard/whiteboard. Being nearsighted tends to gradually become worse until the age of 20 and unfortunately, due to the constant squinting, headache may be frequent.
For people who are farsighted, objects that are further away are easier to read than objects that are right in front of your face. You may have difficulty with tasks such as reading a book as you will have to hold it far away from your eyes. Although, when driving being farsighted can be quite beneficial as it permits you to see street signs that are far away from your vehicle. The majority of individuals grow out of being farsighted once they reach adulthood.
How are they Corrected?
Luckily, living with nearsighted or farsighted vision isn’t irreversible as there are various methods to help make your vision perform at its highest ability. The majority of individuals find it beneficial to purchase eyeglasses or contact lenses to help assist with their vision. Whereas if you are more prone to partake in an optical surgery, LASIK is another option to help correct your vision. If you find that you have difficulty reading up-close or far away, you will want to consult an optometrist so that they can provide you with a pair of vision enhancement products to ensure that you do not strain your eyes and cause any further damage.