Both nearsightedness and farsightedness are eyesight issues that can be corrected with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. 

What is nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness is a type of change in regular vision. People who are nearsighted will be able to view elements in close proximity properly but may have problems being able to see at a distance. Physical objects far away will usually appear to be out of focus or fuzzy.

Indicators of nearsightedness

More often than not, nearsightedness begins during grade school. It's probable that a children won't alert you to changes in their eyesight because they don't have a full understanding of what 'normal' eyesight it. Below are a few clues to help you spot nearsightedness in your child:

• Sitting close to the television
• Squinting or rubbing his eyes frequently
• Holding textbooks along with other toys close to his face
• Demanding to sit in the front of the school room or in the front row of the movie theater so he can better
• A reluctance to get involved in things to do that require distance vision such as athletics

How to diagnose and treat nearsightedness

An eye exam with an optometrist or ophthalmologist can identify nearsightedness. This complete eye exam is a pain-free, non-invasive event which will establish your prescription and get you back to seeing perfectly.

Contacts and eyeglasses are both a possibility for someone who is nearsighted. For small children, eyeglasses are normally recommended rather than contact lenses. As children approach the age of 13, contacts may be suggested as an alternative depending on the child's level of comfort with placing the lens in their eyes and appropriately caring for and maintaining contacts.

If you're having trouble driving or issues with performing tasks that require long-distance vision, speak to your optometrist or ophthalmologist about having an eye exam today. 

What is farsightedness?

Farsightedness is an eyesight issue that describes when people can clearly see objects that are far away. Most people with farsightedness have issues concentrating on items that are very close to them. The clinical term for farsightedness is hyperopia, though many eye doctors will just call it farsightedness.

If you have fuzzy eyesight when you try to see objects close up - reading, sewing or focusing on a laptop computer - but can see perfectly well at a distance, you might be farsighted. Those people who are farsighted may experience more vision problems at night or in the dark than they do during the day.

How is farsightedness diagnosed and treated?

In order to determine if you are farsighted, you will need an eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. While doing this eye exam, the eye doctor should be able to determine how well you see close-up as well as how you see at a distance. Your visual skill will determine your prescription.

For very minor cases of farsightedness, eyeglasses or contact lenses probably aren't needed. However, vision correction will most likely eliminate any eye strain, eye fatigue or headaches a farsighted person experiences. 

After your eye examination, your eye doctor can provide a prescription for eyeglasses or contacts. You might find that you don't need to put on the eyeglasses continuously and only have to have them when you are performing jobs which need you to focus on close materials. Those people with larger degrees of farsightedness might find they require vision correction at all times.

If you are worried about any vision changes or issues with how well you see, your first step is always to make an appointment with an optometrist. A complete eye exam can establish the best course of action to bring back your eyesight to its fullest potential.