How To Correct Nearsightedness with Distance Lenses

Distance wear glasses have single vision lenses and are designed to treat nearsightedness (myopia) and in some cases farsightedness (hyperopia).

Do you need distance lenses?

Distance lenses are ideal for people with myopia, which means you experience blurred vision when focusing on objects far away. Myopia is a common eye refractive error which causes light to reflect unevenly on the retina when focusing on distant objects. People with myopia usually have no problems seeing nearby objects. 

What causes myopia?

Myopia is a common eye refractive error that can develop during early childhood development. Myopia is hereditary, so if you have parents with the same condition, you will have increased chances of developing the condition.

Medical research has also indicated that environmental factors such as extended near vision tasks (like working on a computer) can put you at a higher risk of developing the condition. Myopia usually becomes stable in early adulthood but in some cases, it can become increasingly acute.  The most common symptoms are headaches, squinting and blurred vision when focusing on distant objects.

How do distance wear glasses work?

Myopia can be corrected with distance glasses which are designed with a concave lens. This causes light to refract before it reaches the cornea. For distance wear glasses, the degree of myopia will be indicated by a negative sphere number. A higher number indicates a stronger eye prescription.  If you have a low number, then you may need to wear your glasses only when taking part in activities such as driving or watching television, which require long distance vision.

Because myopia can be a progressive condition, it is important to be aware of the condition of your vision. If you feel like you are experiencing blurred vision (especially when wearing your glasses), you may need a higher prescription. Speak with one of our opticians today for an expert consultation.