Eye Health Resources

Presbyopia vs. myopia: key differences & vision symptoms

Q: What is the difference between presbyopia and myopia?

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.

Q: Is presbyopia the same as nearsightedness?

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.

Q: Can you have myopia and presbyopia at the same time?

Yes, it’s possible to have both myopia and presbyopia, since many people have myopia and almost everyone develops presbyopia as they age.

Q: Does presbyopia affect near vision or distance vision?

Presbyopia makes it difficult to clearly see things that are near your face, so it affects near vision.

Q: Can contact lenses help with myopia and presbyopia?

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.

Q: What is the difference between myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia?

Myopia: difficulty seeing far away caused by an eye that is too long or a lens/cornea that’s too curvedHyperopia: difficulty seeing up close, often caused by an eye that is too short or a lens/cornea that's too flatPresbyopia: difficulty focusing up close due to a lens that stiffens with age

Medically reviewed on February 23, 2026

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Published on September 4, 2024; Updated on September 8, 2026

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5 minute read time

Key takeaways

What is presbyopia?

Why does presbyopia happen?

More about presbyopia

What is myopia?

Why does myopia happen?

More about myopia

Presbyopia vs. myopia: A quick look at the differences

	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?

Is presbyopia just farsightedness?

Presbyopia treatments

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How to treat myopia

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between presbyopia and myopia?

Is presbyopia the same as nearsightedness?

Can you have myopia and presbyopia at the same time?

Does presbyopia affect near vision or distance vision?

Can contact lenses help with myopia and presbyopia?

What is the difference between myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia?

Footnotes

2026PP10152

Presbyopia vs. myopia: key differences & vision symptoms

Key takeaways