Eye Health Resources

Antimetropia: When each eye sees differently

What does it mean when one eye sees near and the other far? It could be a condition called antimetropia. Learn about its symptoms, causes, and how to manage it.

Antimetropia—a type of anisometropia

What is anisometropia?

Anisometropia can occur when vision in one eye is vastly different than in the other eye because of refractive error. It can cause amblyopia (also known as “lazy eye”) if the difference is big enough for one eye to be ignored by the visual processing system.

What is antimetropia?

Antimetropia is a type of anisometropia in which each eye has a different vision need. One eye is nearsighted (myopia), meaning the eye focuses light in front of the retina, making distant objects look blurry. Meanwhile, the other eye is farsighted (hyperopia), meaning light focuses behind the retina, making close-up objects harder to see clearly. This makes it difficult for the brain to blend these two images into one clear picture, which can cause eye strain, headaches, and sometimes blurry vision.

Mixed anisometropia (Antimetropia)

One eye

Other eye

Causes of antimetropia:

Antimetropia can happen when each eye grows or develops differently. If one eye is slightly longer or shaped differently, it may focus better on close objects (nearsightedness) while the other focuses better on distant objects (farsightedness).
Genetics can also play a role; if family members have different vision issues, like nearsightedness or farsightedness, a person may be more likely to develop antimetropia.
As we age, our eyes can change in different ways, which may also lead to each eye having different focusing abilities. Certain eye surgeries or conditions, like cataracts or injuries, can also cause one eye to focus differently than the other.

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How your eye doctor might diagnose and treat antimetropia

Diagnosis: Regular eye exams are key to spotting and managing refractive differences early. Antimetropia is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam, where the eye doctor measures the refractive error in each eye separately. This will allow the doctor to create a unique prescription that balances each eye's needs, allowing both eyes to work together effectively.

Correction: Antimetropia can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses and refractive surgery. The eye doctor can discuss which options would be best for you and your specific vision needs.

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Contact lenses are often the favorable option—why?

Contact lenses are often preferred for correcting antimetropia because they sit directly on the eye, providing a more natural field of vision. Contact lenses do not have the same magnification effects compared to glasses, which helps reduce any distortion that would normally be caused by wearing spectacles.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What are the symptoms of antimetropia?

While not everyone has noticeable symptoms, people with antimetropia may find that one eye sees more clearly than the other, which may cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and often poor depth perception.

How rare is antimetropia?

Antimetropia occurs in about 0.1% of the population.

What causes antimetropia?

Antimetropia can occur when each eye develops different focusing abilities, often due to differences in eye shape, genetics, aging, or previous eye surgeries or injuries.

How is antimetropia corrected?

Antimetropia can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses and refractive surgery, although contact lenses are often the preferred option.

What can happen if antimetropia is not treated?

If left untreated, antimetropia can sometimes lead to amblyopia, or “lazy eye.” Amblyopia occurs when the brain and eyes don’t work together as well as they should, which can affect vision in the weaker eye.

What is the difference between hyperopia and myopia?

Myopia makes it harder to see things in the distance (nearsightedness), while Hyperopia makes it harder to see things up close (farsightedness).

Footnotes

Consult your eye care professional for more information. Johnson & Johnson does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.

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