Short and Long Sighted

Myopia is the term used to define being shortsighted.

A myopic person has clear vision when looking at objects close to them, but distant objects will appear blurred. This is because light is focused in front of the retina and, being too far forward in the eye, things in the distance look blurred.

People typically become short-sighted as teenagers or in their twenties, with around three in 10 people in Ireland being myopic.

Hypermetropia, sometimes called hyperopia, is the term used to define being longsighted.

If you are hypermetropic, the image of a nearby object is formed behind the retina. This means that light is focused too far back in the eye, causing things which are close up to appear blurred.

Both myopia and hypermetropia can be easily corrected by the Optometrist at your local Vision Express, using prescription glasses or contact lenses specifically designed to counteract their effects.

Shortsightedness is corrected using a concave (curved inwards) lens which is placed in front of a myopic eye, moving the image back to the retina and making it clearer.

Longsightedness is corrected using a convex (outward facing) lens. This is placed in front of a hypermetropic eye, moving the image forward and focusing it correctly on the retina.