Blurred near vision: is it presbyopia or hyperopia?

What is farsightedness? 

Hyperopia is a visual defect. People with farsightedness can see clearly at a distance, but see blurred at close range because their eyes are too short. This tends to become more pronounced as the day progresses and near vision is strained, which can lead to eyestrain and headaches. In some cases, vision can remain sharp at close range! The hyperopic person then manages to correct his or her vision defect by himself or herself, at the cost of a great deal of effort on the part of the eyes... This leads to increased visual fatigue. 

To be noted: This visual defect can start very early, in childhood, whereas presbyopia starts to appear from the age of 40.

What is presbyopia? 

Presbyopia is caused by the natural aging of the eye: over time, the lens becomes less flexible and its ability to focus diminishes. From the age of 40 onwards, a person with hyperopia will therefore become both hyperopic and presbyopic.

What is the difference between presbyopia and hyperopia? 

Classification 

Presbyopia  

• Natural evolution of vision.

Hyperopia 

• Visual defect.

Age

Presbyopia

• Starts to appear from the age of 40. 

Hyperopia 

• May be present from an early age.

Percentage of the population affected 

Presbyopia

• 100%: with the natural aging of the eye, we will all be affected by presbyopia one day.    

Hyperopia 

• About 10%.

Symptoms

Presbyopia

• Difficulty seeing up close.
• Need to hold a book or smartphone away from you at arm's length to read.
• Deciphering small print and details becomes difficult.
• Reading becomes difficult in low light.
• Increased sensitivity to light.
• Headaches.    

Hyperopia 

• Objects at a close distance appear blurred.
• Visual fatigue, especially after having used close vision for a long time.
• Tendency to squint while reading.
• Headaches.

Causes

Presbyopia

• The lens loses flexibility over time. This leads to difficulty in focusing on objects at a short distance.  

Hyperopia 

• An eye that is too short causes the image of the object being viewed to form behind the retina.

Treatments and solutions 

Presbyopia

• Progressive lenses, contact lenses or eye surgery.      

Hyperopia 

• Single vision lenses (same correction power over the entire surface of the lens), contact lenses or surgery.  

Recommended lenses 

Presbyopia

• Varilux® progressive lenses, for clear vision at all distances with a single pair of glasses.    

Hyperopia 

• Eyezen® single vision lenses, designed to relieve eye strain.

Whether you are hyperopic or presbyopic, there are solutions to correct your vision and provide you with clear vision, while protecting your visual capital in the long term. Our lenses are also designed to optimise your visual comfort in all situations. If you notice the symptoms described above, consult your ophthalmologist without delay. He will prescribe you a prescription for glasses. All that remains is for you to visit your optician: it is on his advice that you will find the custom-made lenses, made according to your needs.