Myopia vs. Hyperopia: One You’ll Notice. One You Probably Won’t.

When your child starts squinting at the TV or can’t read the board in class, it’s a clear sign that something’s up. That’s myopia, or nearsightedness. Most parents catch it early because the signs are hard to miss. 

But what if your child seems fine, yet avoids reading, gets tired during homework, or just can’t sit still when it's time to focus? You might think they're just not trying hard enough. The truth is, they could be farsighted. That’s hyperopia. 

And here’s the part most parents don’t know hyperopia is not just the opposite of myopia. It’s sneakier. Harder to catch. And often misunderstood. 

This is the one your child’s optometrist can catch—before it affects their learning, their focus, and their confidence. 

What Is Myopia? 

Myopia is nearsightedness. It means your child can see up close without trouble, but distant things look blurry. The eyeball is slightly too long in diameter, so light focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it. 

You’ll probably notice it. Kids with myopia often: 

• Squint to see the board or distant signs 

• Sit close to screens or books 

• Complain about blurry vision when looking up from close work 

• Avoid sports or activities that involve distance vision 

It’s not often subtle. Most parents pick up on it quickly. 

What Is Hyperopia? And Why It’s So Easy to Miss 

Hyperopia is farsightedness. It means your child can usually see far away just fine, but their eyes have to work harder to focus on things up close. The eyeball is slightly too short, so light focuses behind the retina instead of right on it. 

Unlike myopia, hyperopia can hide in plain sight. Young eyes are flexible, and many kids are able to compensate for their blurry near vision without even realizing they’re doing it. But over time, this extra effort leads to fatigue and frustration. 

Here’s what hyperopia can look like: 

• Trouble focusing on books, homework, or crafts 

• Rubbing their eyes or getting headaches after school 

• Acting fidgety or restless during close-up tasks 

• Avoiding reading or saying it's boring 

• Seeming distracted or being mislabeled as having a behaviour issue 

The child may pass vision screenings and say they can see fine. But they’re working too hard to keep up. 

What It Looks Like at Home and School 

Let’s break it down in everyday terms. 

With myopia, your child will tell you they can’t see something far away. They might sit too close to the TV, squint at street signs, or complain about not seeing the board. 

With hyperopia, your child might look like they’re just not focusing. They may seem tired after short periods of reading or get frustrated with homework. They may be dismissed as lazy or distracted, when really their eyes are just overworked. 

Hyperopia doesn’t always blur what your child sees. Their vision fluctuates between clear and focused as the eyes fatigue. 

The Symptoms 

Myopia symptoms: 

• Blurry distance vision 

• Squinting 

• Sitting close to screens 

• Trouble seeing classroom material 

• Headaches from eye strain 

Hyperopia symptoms: 

• Eye rubbing or blinking during close-up work 

• Headaches after reading or writing 

• Avoidance of close-up activities 

• Difficulty with focus or attention 

• Complaints of tired eyes, even if vision seems clear 

The symptoms overlap with other issues, which is why it can be so easily missed. 

What Can You Do? 

The most important thing you can do is schedule regular eye exams with a licensed optometrist. Even if your child passed a school screening, even if they haven't said anything, a proper eye exam is the only way to know what’s really going on. 

Eye exams should happen: 

• By 6 months of age  

• Before starting school 

• Every year after that, especially during key developmental stages 

Treatment options include: 

• Prescription glasses, which help the eyes focus more easily and reduce fatigue 

• Vision therapy for certain focusing or coordination issues 

• Myopia control treatments, like specialty lenses or atropine drops, to slow its progression 

The Bottom Line 

If your child has myopia, you’ll probably catch it. If your child has hyperopia, you probably won’t. 

And that’s why eye exams matter. Hyperopia doesn’t always make things look blurry. It makes your child work harder, get tired faster, and lose focus sooner—and you might never suspect their eyes are the problem. 

So don’t wait for complaints. Book the exam. 

Not because something’s wrong, but because everything looks fine—until it isn’t.