Presbyopia vs. myopia: key differences & vision symptoms
Presbyopia and myopia are different vision issues with entirely different causes. Presbyopia happens to nearly everyone as they age and makes it difficult to see things clearly up close, myopia occurs when the eye grows too long, or the cornea or lens too curved during development, making things that are far away appear blurry.
Key takeaways
- Presbyopia is an age-related condition that makes it hard to clearly see things up close
- Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a condition that makes distance vision blurry and increases the chances of eye health issues later in life
- They can exist together—you can have both myopia and presbyopia at the same time
- Treatments for each may require a different approach, depending on your age and any other vision conditions you may have
What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a natural, age-related vision change that makes it difficult to focus on nearby objects. It typically starts becoming noticeable around age 40, though you may notice it earlier or later in life.
Why does presbyopia happen?
Inside your eye, you have a clear, flexible lens that changes shape to help you focus, depending on the distance of what you’re looking at. As you get older, that lens becomes less flexible, which makes it challenging to focus on close objects, especially in dim light conditions. A telltale sign is when you find yourself holding your phone at arm's length just to read a text message. If you relate to this, don’t worry—presbyopia is completely normal, and your eye doctor can help you find a solution that works for you.
What is myopia?
Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is when the eye grows too long or the cornea is too curved. This condition makes distant objects appear blurry.
Why does myopia happen?
Myopia is caused by the eye growing too long from front to back or the cornea being too curved, which means light focuses in front of the retina instead of on it. It's understood to be a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. In the case of the eye growing too long, the condition does not just make it harder to see things far away; it may also increase the chance of eye health issues later in life, like retinal detachment, certain types of macular degeneration, and even blindness.
Presbyopia vs. myopia: A quick look at the differences
Presbyopia is caused by an age-related loss of lens flexibility, whereas myopia is caused by the physical shape of the eye, and their effects are essentially opposites.
Presbyopia | Myopia | |
|---|---|---|
Common name
| Age-related near-vision change
| Nearsightedness
|
Main issue
| Trouble focusing up close
| Trouble seeing distant objects
|
Age of onset
| Typically around 40
| Typically in childhood/adolescence
|
Cause | Natural lens of eye becoming more stiff
| Eyeball that grows too long or lens/cornea that’s too curved |
Risk factors
| Age | Genetics, excessive time indoors and/or performing “near work” |
Can contacts help?
| Yes | Yes |
Possible treatments
| Reading glasses, multifocal contact lenses, prescription eye drops
| Soft contact lenses, orthokeratology, surgery, glasses
|
Can you have presbyopia and myopia at the same time?
Yes, you can have both presbyopia and myopia at the same time. Since myopia involves the length of the eye or the curve of the cornea and presbyopia involves the flexibility of the lens, these two conditions can overlap as you reach your 40s.
If you already wear glasses for distance, you might find yourself needing to take them off to read small print. Fortunately, one solution may be multifocal contact lenses, which offer a seamless way to combine both near and far vision in one solution.
Is presbyopia just farsightedness?
No, presbyopia and farsightedness are different vision conditions with different causes. While both conditions make it hard to see up close, presbyopia is caused by the aging of the eye's lens, whereas farsightedness (hyperopia) is typically caused by the shape of the eyeball.
Presbyopia treatments
Your eye doctor can recommend several ways to treat presbyopia, depending on your eye health history and your dynamic lifestyle. These treatments may include eyeglasses, contact lenses, surgery, eye drops, or a combination of these options. Comfort meets clarity when you find the right fit for your daily routine.
How to treat myopia
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Frequently asked questions
Presbyopia is an age-related vision change that makes it difficult to clearly see things that are near your face, while myopia is a vision condition, typically caused by an elongated eye, that makes it hard to see things that are at a distance, like street signs or the board in school.
Presbyopia and nearsightedness are different conditions. Presbyopia is an age-related change to your vision that starts happening to almost everyone around age 40, while nearsightedness typically starts in childhood and affects a person’s ability to clearly see things that are far away.
Yes, it’s possible to have both myopia and presbyopia, since many people have myopia and almost everyone develops presbyopia as they age.
Presbyopia makes it difficult to clearly see things that are near your face, so it affects near vision.
Yes, contact lenses are available that correct both myopia and presbyopia. If you’re interested in exploring contact lenses to correct both, talk to your eye doctor.
- Myopia: difficulty seeing far away caused by an eye that is too long or a lens/cornea that’s too curved
- Hyperopia: difficulty seeing up close, often caused by an eye that is too short or a lens/cornea that's too flat
- Presbyopia: difficulty focusing up close due to a lens that stiffens with age
Related content
Get to know treatment options for presbyopia
Screen time's effect on vision and myopia
Footnotes
The information provided on this page and across the entire Acuvue.com experience is designed to offer educational insights into eye health, referencing expert advice from reputable medical and government organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Optometric Association and the National Eye Institute. While we research, report, and review the content on Acuvue.com and its extended social media to deliver accurate and up-to-date vision, vision care, and vision correction information, we do not make any assurances, and content accessed on or through Acuvue.com and its extended social media is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any eye conditions or health issues. This brings us to our #1 eye health tip: Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical guidance and care.
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