- Nearsightedness, or myopia, makes distance blurry, while farsightedness, or hyperopia, makes close-up blurry.
- A minus sign on your prescription means nearsighted, and a plus sign means farsighted.
- Numbers farther from zero call for stronger lenses.
- Minus lenses are thinner in the center, while plus lenses are thicker in the center.
- You can have a different refractive error in each eye.
- An eye exam confirms your exact prescription and lens options.
You pull your phone closer, then farther, then closer again. Or you lean forward in the car because the exit sign won’t sharpen up until you’re almost past it. Both moments point to the same thing: a refractive error. McCauley Celin Eyecare Associates sees this every day across the North Hills.
Nearsightedness, or myopia, means distance objects look blurry; farsightedness, or hyperopia, means close-up objects look blurry, and both are refractive errors that lenses can correct. A routine eye exam can determine which one you have.
Signs of Nearsightedness
Nearsightedness tends to show up when something is a few feet away or more. You may be nearsighted if you:
- Squint at street signs, TV screens, or a whiteboard
- Have frequent headaches, eye strain, or tired eyes
- Struggle with night driving
Signs of Farsightedness
Farsightedness shows up in the opposite direction, during the tasks sitting right in front of you. You may be farsighted if you:
- Have trouble with reading, small print, or phone screens
- Experience aching or burning around the eyes
- Have headaches after close-up work
Negative and Positive Prescriptions
Your prescription card may seem confusing, but the first character tells you almost everything. A minus sign means you’re nearsighted. A plus sign means you’re farsighted.
The number after the sign describes strength. The farther that number sits from zero, the stronger the lens you need.
Check the sign before you look at anything else. Numbers like +1.25, +1.50, +2.25, and +2.50 all point to farsightedness. Numbers like -1.25 or -2.25 point to nearsightedness, also called myopia.
You can also have both, one in each eye. And astigmatism is a separate refractive error that can show up alongside either.
What a 1.25 Prescription Means
A lower number simply means milder correction. Someone at 1.25 needs less help than someone at 2.50.
What matters more is how your eyes feel by the end of the day. If reading leaves you rubbing your temples, that’s worth mentioning, even with a small number on the card. An eye exam gives you the full picture instead of a guess, and wearing the wrong prescription often explains that end-of-day ache.
How Do Glasses Correct Nearsightedness and Farsightedness?
Lenses redirect light so it lands on your retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye. That single adjustment is what turns a fuzzy sign into a readable one.
The shape does the work. Minus lenses are thinner in the center and thicker at the edges. Plus lenses flip that, thicker in the center and thinner at the edges.
Lens Options for Each Prescription
Two people with similar prescriptions can end up with very different glasses, and the difference is usually the lens itself. For example:
- High-index lenses stay thinner and lighter with stronger prescriptions, so your frames don’t sit heavy on your nose.
- Anti-reflective coatings help cut glare from screens and oncoming headlights.
- Progressive lenses handle close, intermediate, and distance vision in one pair, without a visible line.
This is where in-office lens guidance earns its keep. Online checkouts can’t measure how your frame sits on your face or match a lens design to the hours you spend on a laptop, which is one reason to buy glasses from your optometrist. You can also browse our selection of frames and lenses before your visit.
Over-the-Counter Reading Glasses vs. a Custom Prescription
Age-related near blur isn’t the same as farsightedness, even though both make small print harder.
Over-the-counter readers use one-size lenses, with no personalization for your eyes or the distance you actually hold your phone. Custom lenses match your measurements, your frame, and your daily habits. That’s why they tend to feel comfortable for longer stretches.
How Your Optometrist Helps
An eye exam confirms your exact prescription and rules out other reasons behind the strain. During the visit, your optometrist checks your vision, reviews your eye health, and measures your prescription.
Expect questions about your work, screen time, driving, and hobbies, because those answers shape the lens recommendation.
We also handle frame fitting, lens selection, and follow-up adjustments in the office, so a pair that slips or pinches can be fixed the same week rather than shipped back somewhere.
McCauley Celin Eyecare Associates has served North Hills families since 1940, and our team looks forward to helping you see clearly. Book your eye exam today at the Wexford, Gibsonia, or North Hills office.
