Just as the rest of our body, our eyes change constantly. Some vision changes, like myopia (nearsightedness), appear early in life, whereas others, like presbyopia (age-related farsightedness), appear later in life.
These two are among the most common types of refractive errors. A refractive error is an eye condition where light cannot properly focus on the retina, due to changes in its shape, surface, or curvature.
Both conditions affect your vision. However, they are completely different from each other in terms of age of onset, cause, and treatment options. It’s easy to confuse the two because they both impact your visual abilities, yet one impacts your distance vision while the other affects your near vision.
In this blog, we will help you understand all about the two eye conditions, what causes them, and how they can be corrected.
What is Myopia?
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a vision problem that impacts an individual’s ability to see distant objects clearly. An individual with myopia typically has trouble reading from far away, seeing distant objects while driving, or recognising faces from a distance.
This happens as the light entering the eye does not focus on the retina; instead, it focuses in front of the retina.
Myopia Causes
It is a result of changes in eye shape, especially the length. Myopia generally develops in childhood or the teenage years, and the eye power may continue to increase until the early 20s. Another major cause of myopia is genetic predisposition.
Today, myopia is more common than ever, owing to reduced outdoor activity and a substantial surge in screen use.
What is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a common age-related refractive error that makes it difficult to see nearby objects clearly. People typically start noticing symptoms after 40 years of age. With this condition, reading fine print, phone use, and threading needles, etc., become increasingly difficult because nearby objects appear blurry.
Presbyopia Causes
Presbyopia develops as the natural lens becomes less flexible with ageing. Reduced lens flexibility results in an inability to easily adjust for near vision. Presbyopia is a natural part of growing older, and almost everyone gets affected by it.
Difference Between Myopia and Presbyopia
Here’s a concise look at the difference between myopia and presbyopia:
| DIFFERENCE | MYOPIA | PRESBYOPIA |
| Vision | Unclear distance vision | Unclear near vision |
| Age of onset | Typically develops in childhood/teenage | Typically develops after 40 |
| Cause | Changes in eye shape | Natural lens ageing |
| Correction options | – Glasses – Atropine eye drops (prescribed) – Contact lenses – LASIK | – Glasses – Multifocal contact lenses – Surgery |
| Preventable | Partially preventable | Inevitable part of ageing |
Myopia Symptoms
- Unclear distance vision
- Eye strain while reading distant text
- Squinting to focus
- Sitting close to screens
- Headaches after screen time
Presbyopia Symptoms
- Unclear near vision
- Difficulty in close-up tasks like reading, using phone, cooking, etc.
- Need for bright light to focus on objects
- Eye fatigue after close-up work
- Holding objects at a distance to see clearly
Myopia Treatment Options
Myopia cannot be cured permanently, but there are ways to correct it or delay its progression.
Common management strategies include:
- Eyeglasses: If your child is diagnosed with myopia, the first line of treatment includes prescription eyeglasses.
- Contact lenses: If you prefer not to wear specs, you may choose to switch to contact lenses in your teens or early adulthood.
- Refractive surgery: Myopia can be corrected through a number of specs removal surgeries ( Wavelight Plus InnovEyes, SMILE Pro, Contoura Vision, Femto LASIK, etc.).
- Prescribed eye drops for children: If your doctor prescribes them, low-dose atropine drops can be helpful in slowing down progression.
- Increased outdoor activity: Increased outdoor activity and limited screen time can help control progression.
*Note: It is important to note that only individuals who are over the age of 18 and have had a stable eye power for at least 1 year qualify for refractive surgeries.
Presbyopia Treatment Options
Presbyopia, like all refractive errors, cannot be cured. Here are some ways that can help manage the condition:
- Reading glasses: These provide clear near vision for close-up tasks.
- Multifocal or progressive contact lenses: Can be used for both near & distance vision clarity.
- Corrective surgery: Procedures like RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange) give you clear near vision and eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses.
- Well-lit spaces & regular breaks: Working in well-lit spaces and taking short breaks regularly can reduce eye strain.
Why Choose Sohana Hospital?
Sohana Eye Hospital has a wide range of corrective treatment options for both myopia and presbyopia. A team of the best eye doctors in Chandigarh, works closely to provide personalised vision correction plans suited to each patient’s unique visual requirements.
Not just that, the hospital also boasts the 1st ever Myopia Management Clinic in Tricity – which aims at providing the best eye care solutions for your little ones.
See the world in perfect clarity!
