# Short-sighted or long-sighted: what is the difference?

> If you are short-sighted (myopia), near things are clear and distant things are blurry, and your prescription has a minus sign. If you are long-sighted (hyperopia), your eyes must work harder to focus, especially up close, which causes blur, tired eyes and headaches, and your prescription has a plus sign. Both are corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Source: https://seebetter.co.za/blog/short-sighted-vs-long-sighted/
Publisher: See Better (https://seebetter.co.za/)
Section: Eye conditions
Published: 2026-10-11
Last updated: 2026-10-11

## Key points

- Short-sighted: you see well up close and poorly far away. Minus lenses.
- Long-sighted: close work is blurry or tiring. Plus lenses.
- Both are caused by the shape of the eye, not by anything you did.
- Long-sightedness is different from the reading blur that arrives after 40.

## The quick comparison

| | Short-sighted (myopia) | Long-sighted (hyperopia) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What is blurry | Distant things: road signs, the board, the TV | Near things first. Distance too if it is strong |
| What is clear | Close work | Distance, in mild cases and in young people |
| Shape of the eye | Slightly too long, or the cornea too curved | Slightly too short, or the cornea too flat |
| Where light focuses | In front of the retina | Behind the retina |
| Prescription sign | Minus (-) | Plus (+) |
| Typical complaints | Squinting, trouble driving at night | Eye strain, headaches, tiredness when reading |
| Usually appears | In childhood or the teens | Present from birth, noticed later |
| American terms | Nearsighted | Farsighted |

## What short-sightedness is

In a short-sighted eye, light from distant objects comes to a focus just in front of the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. The picture that reaches the retina is blurred. Close objects focus correctly, so reading and phone screens are clear.

Typical signs:

- road signs, number plates and faces across a room are fuzzy
- you squint to see the TV or the board
- night driving is especially difficult
- you see better when you move closer

Short-sightedness usually starts between the ages of 6 and 13 and increases through the teenage years as the eye grows. It tends to run in families, and children who spend little time outdoors are at higher risk. See [short-sightedness in children](https://seebetter.co.za/blog/myopia-in-children/).

## What long-sightedness is

In a long-sighted eye, light would come to a focus behind the retina. A young eye can pull that focus forward by flexing the lens inside the eye, and it does this automatically. That is why many long-sighted children and young adults see perfectly clearly and pass a letter-chart test. The cost is that their focusing muscles are working all the time, and harder still for near tasks.

Typical signs:

- tired, aching or burning eyes after reading or screen work
- headaches, often across the forehead
- print that goes in and out of focus
- trouble concentrating on close work
- in children, avoiding reading or an eye that turns inwards

As the years pass and the eye's focusing power fades, long-sighted people notice blur up close first, and later at distance as well.

## Long-sightedness is not the same as presbyopia

Both make reading difficult, and both are corrected with plus lenses, so they are easily confused. Long-sightedness comes from the shape of the eye and is present from childhood. [Presbyopia](https://seebetter.co.za/blog/presbyopia-blurry-near-vision-after-40/) is the normal stiffening of the lens with age. It affects everyone from their 40s, including people who have had perfect sight all their lives.

## Can you be both?

Not in the same eye at the same time. But there are common combinations:

- one eye short-sighted and the other long-sighted
- either condition together with [astigmatism](https://seebetter.co.za/blog/what-is-astigmatism/), which is very common
- short-sightedness plus presbyopia after 40. This is why short-sighted people often take their glasses off to read.

## How they are diagnosed

An eye test measures exactly where your eyes focus and what lens power corrects it. The result is written as a number in dioptres: minus for short-sightedness and plus for long-sightedness. The further the number is from zero, the stronger the lens. [How to read your glasses prescription](https://seebetter.co.za/blog/how-to-read-your-glasses-prescription/) explains the rest of the numbers.

Long-sightedness in particular can hide, because young eyes compensate so well. If you have headaches or tired eyes but "see fine", a full eye test is the way to find out.

## How they are corrected

- **Glasses** are the simplest solution. Minus lenses move the focus back onto the retina for short-sightedness. Plus lenses bring it forward for long-sightedness.
- **Contact lenses** do the same job on the surface of the eye.
- **Laser eye surgery** reshapes the cornea and is an option for some adults with a stable prescription.

Neither condition can be cured with exercises, diet or going without glasses. [Can you improve your eyesight naturally?](https://seebetter.co.za/blog/can-you-improve-eyesight-naturally/) looks at what does and does not help.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is short-sighted minus or plus?

Short-sightedness is corrected with minus lenses, so the prescription has a minus sign, such as -2.00. Long-sightedness is corrected with plus lenses, such as +2.00.

### Which is worse, short-sightedness or long-sightedness?

Neither is worse in itself. Both are easily corrected. High degrees of short-sightedness carry a higher risk of some eye conditions later in life, and long-sightedness that is not corrected in children can lead to a squint or a lazy eye.

### Can long-sighted people see far away clearly?

Often, yes, especially when they are young and the long-sightedness is mild, because the eye's focusing muscles compensate. The effort can cause eye strain and headaches, and distance vision may also blur with age.

### Does short-sightedness get better with age?

Not usually. It tends to increase through childhood and the teens and then stabilises in adulthood. After 40, short-sighted people often find they can read without their glasses, which can feel like an improvement but is a separate change.

## About See Better

See Better is a mobile optometry practice in Gauteng, South Africa. A qualified, HPCSA-registered optometrist travels to the client's home, workplace, school or event, so there is no practice to visit.

- Areas served: Johannesburg, Pretoria (Tshwane), Ekurhuleni (East Rand), the West Rand and the Vaal.
- Eye test at home: R450 (cash price).
- Eye test + frame + single vision lenses + tint: R1199 (cash price).
- Eye test + frame + bifocal lenses + tint: R1699 (cash price).
- Eye test + frame + multifocal lenses + tint: R2099 (cash price).
- All glasses carry a 1-year warranty.
- We are registered with most medical aids and charge at medical aid tariffs.
- Book on WhatsApp: +27 66 181 8667 (https://wa.me/27661818667)
- Email: info@seebetter.co.za
- Website: https://seebetter.co.za/