lenses

Nearsighted vs Farsighted: What’s the Difference?

Many people get confused between the terms nearsightedness and farsightedness. While they are both common refractive errors that cause blurry vision, they are two very different conditions.

Nearsightedness and farsightedness are called refractive errors because they occur when the eye is unable to refract, or focus, light directly onto the retina. This results in blurred vision, though at varying distances, depending on which of these refractive errors you have.

What Is Nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness (myopia) causes objects in the distance to appear blurry. It occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved. This causes the light entering the eye to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it.

Myopia typically begins in childhood, but can worsen until the eye reaches its adult size, at around age 20.

Symptoms of Nearsightedness

Blurry distance vision
Squinting
Excessive blinking or eye rubbing
Difficulties with night vision, especially driving
Headaches
Eyestrain

Myopia can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses and, in many cases, laser refractive surgery.

Myopia management is a customized program recommended when nearsightedness progresses each year, since the program can slow down or even stop the myopia from worsening.

What Is Farsightedness?

Farsightedness (hyperopia) makes nearby objects appear blurry. It occurs when the eyeball is too short or the curve of the cornea is too flat. This causes light to focus behind the retina instead of directly on it.

Hyperopia is often present from birth and can lead to a lazy eye or eye turn in some children.

Symptoms of Farsightedness

Headaches while performing near work
Eyestrain
Squinting
Burning and aching in or around the eyes
Trouble focusing on nearby objects, such as books or a computer screen, or while engaged in crafts or hobbies

Farsightedness can be corrected with eyeglasses and contact lenses.

If your child is showing signs of a vision problem, contact Overland Optical Family Eye Care, conveniently located in Overland and St. Charles to schedule a comprehensive eye exam. Our doctors and staff are here to provide you with the utmost care and answer any questions you may have.

At Overland Optical Family Eye Care, we put your family’s needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 314-254-2211 or book an appointment online to see one of our Overland eye doctors.

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Q&A

What is myopia management?

Myopia management offers effective methods to help stop or slow the rate of myopia progression. Myopia progression not only increases the optical prescription, but heightens a child’s risk for developing sight-threatening diseases in the future.

Is farsightedness the same as presbyopia?

No. While both of these vision conditions affect near vision clarity, they have two different underlying causes.

Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a common refractive error that is typically diagnosed in childhood, while presbyopia is an age-related condition, usually first noticed after age 45, that causes the focusing lens of the eye to stiffen, resulting in blurry near vision.

5 Tips For Cleaning Your Eyeglasses

If you wear glasses, you know that smudges are uncomfortable and can cause eye strain. But did you know that eyeglasses can harbor harmful bacteria unless they’re cleaned properly?

That’s why keeping your glasses clean is so important. Here are our top tips for cleaning your eyeglasses thoroughly and safely.

1. Use a Microfiber Cloth

Microfiber cloths are those small squares of cloth that usually come inside your eyeglass case when you pick up your glasses from your eye doctor.

They’re designed to gently and efficiently lift any dust, dirt, and grease from the lens’ surface.

Don’t use the bottom of your shirt, tissue paper, or other cloth — these will just smear grease around the lens, not actually remove it. Even worse, abrasive materials can push the dirt into the lens and frame, permanently scratching and damaging them.

Bonus tip — you’ll want to keep a microfiber cloth handy because they aren’t just great for glasses; they’re also perfect for cleaning phone and tablet screens.

2.Use a Lens Cleaning Fluid

You no longer need to use your breath to moisten your lens. You can easily purchase specialized fluids designed for cleaning your glasses.

But make sure they’re safe for various coatings like anti reflective (AR) coatings.

Some lens cleaners can be too harsh and strip away the coating, so look for “AR Safe” listed on the bottle.

Alternatively, you can use dish soap. But stick to the original kind — not dish soaps for sensitive skin or with added lotions.

3.The Type of Water Matters

If you’re using dish soap to clean your glasses, the type of water you use may make a difference.

Rinse your specs under lukewarm water. Avoid hot water, as it can damage some lenses and coatings.

Also, if hard water flows from your tap, use distilled water instead for rinsing to avoid mineral deposits getting in your frames.

4.Try Compressed Air

Water streaks or droplet marks can make your vision uncomfortable. For crystal clear lenses, use a can of compressed air to dry the lenses and frames after rinsing.

5.Bring Them In to Your Local Optical

Overland Optical Family Eye Care Center is happy to help with all of your eye care needs. Our on-site repair lab will save you the hassle of shipping your eyewear out for repairs, or for a thorough cleaning.

To schedule an appointment or learn more, call Overland Optical Family Eye Care in Overland or St. Charles today!

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Looking into Progressive Lenses for Your Next Pair of Eyeglasses?

Here’s a few things you should know when considering progressive eyeglass lenses

Let’s start with the basics. Progressive eyeglass lenses are a type of prescription eyewear that corrects vision across a range of distances. Each lens features the seamless integration of multiple prescriptions. One area helps you to see close-up, another area targets intermediate distances, and a third area helps you to focus on objects in the distance.

If you’re considering progressive eyeglasses, most likely you are over 40 and have presbyopia (“age-related farsightedness”). In days of old, bifocals would have been your only option for Rx eyewear. Many people shunned this option because of the unattractive and distracting line that runs through the middle of the lenses of bifocals, separating the prescription powers. Instead, many people chose to carry an additional pair of glasses at all times – reading glasses or readers.

Nowadays, progressive lenses offer an aesthetic, effective and convenient solution that eliminates the need for multiple pairs of glasses. To try this advanced eyewear option, consult with our optometrists in Overland and St. Charles, Missouri. We’ll check your vision, issue a precise prescription, and help you choose the perfect frames from our optical collection to fit your visual needs.

Progressives are custom-made to match your prescription

These lenses are ground in such a way as to accommodate prescriptions for near, medium, and distance vision.

As opposed to traditional Rx lenses, which bend light to a unified focal point so it falls precisely on the retina, progressives bend light to several focal points, depending on where the light enters the lens. Many people find the vision experience of progressives to be more natural.

Progressive eyeglass lenses are crafted according to your exact prescription and visual requirements. So if you spend a lot of time looking at things up-close, a wider view for that Rx power may be best. Or if you work outdoors, you may prefer a larger area of the lens made to provide clear distance vision.

Advantages & disadvantages of progressive eyeglasses

As with everything, there are pros and cons to be aware of. Our eye doctor in Overland and St. Charles, Missouri, has outlined the following:

Pros

One pair of eyeglasses can give you sharp sight across a wide range of distances

Progressive eyeglass lenses provide a seamless, comfortable transition from one Rx power to the next, with no ugly lines

Cons

Progressives can be costlier than bifocals, because the lens technology is more complex

There is usually a transition period necessary for getting used to wearing progressive lenses for the first time. Your view may be distorted initially; this can last hours or days, depending on the person.

We offer only top quality progressive eyeglasses in Overland and St. Charles, Missouri

The eyewear market is saturated with options for progressive eyeglass lenses. Fortunately, there’s no reason for you to wade through all the products, because our eye care team has already navigated for you!

We will perform an eye exam to determine your up-to-date prescription and discuss your lifestyle needs and preferences in order to recommend the most suitable, quality progressives. Book a consultation in our optical stores in Overland and St. Charles to get started.

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How can we get you your eyeglasses on the same day?

For most people who need eyeglasses to see, going a day or even a few hours without glasses is not an option. Clear vision is necessary for almost everything you do, including work, play, and driving safely. What happens when you have an accident that breaks your glasses, and you need an emergency pair? No worries, our eye care team understands. That’s why we offer same day service for eyeglasses made on site in our optical stores in Overland and St. Charles, Missouri.

How do we make eyeglasses on the same day?

Simple; we equip our offices with a high-precision edger, so we can make your eyeglasses on site and on time for your busy lifestyle!

When the frames or lenses of your glasses break, it can be an emergency that requires an immediate solution. You don’t have time to place an order for new eyeglasses, and then wait for a few days (with blurry vision) as the optical store sends the frames out to a lab to get the lenses crafted in your prescription. At Overland Optical Family Eye Care, we won’t make you wait. You’ll be on your way in no time, with crisp and clear vision.

Same day service – with no compromises

It doesn’t matter which designer frames you choose; we can shape any lens to fit smoothly into any size frames. Our Lab Team shares decades of experience in the optical field, and our opticians are ABO-certified. We offer fast service, with no compromises on quality.

Thanks to our advanced edger technology and exceptional optical staff, we can complete most emergency repairs and craft new lenses for most prescriptions, including progressives, Transitions, and no-glare lenses, on the same day.

Vision is valuable, and so is your time

Make the most of your eyesight and your time with a visit to our optical stores in Overland and St. Charles, Missouri. With our same day service, we’ll make your high quality lenses in our on-site eyeglasses workshop, so you can enjoy sharp vision as soon as possible.

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Old Frames with New Lenses, or New Designer Frames? What to Buy?

See the pros and cons of both optical options

When your vision prescription changes, you’ll need new eyeglasses lenses. Most patients are excited to choose a new pair of designer frames from our trending optical collections in Overland and St. Charles, Missouri. However, some customers question whether they can just fit new lenses into their old frames. What’s the bottom line?

In general, it’s best to buy new frames, because using old frames can lead to a range of problems. Here’s a rundown of the reasons we don’t usually recommend fitting new lenses into old frames:

Pros of buying new designer frames

Old frames must be heated to take out the old lenses, and then they are reheated to insert the new lenses. This process ages the frames and increases their risk of cracking, splitting, or breaking.
You won’t ever be without a pair of glasses while you send your old frames for refitting
Most optical stores offer a deal when you buy a new frame at the same time as your new lenses
You can leave your old frames as a spare pair
Buying new designer frames reduces the chances of frame breakage after a few months
It’s much easier to adjust new frames when they bend out of shape or feel uncomfortable on your face
If any eyeglass parts break, it’s much easier to find replacement parts for new designer frames
You get to update your style

Cons of buying new frames

It can be more costly
If you’re attached to the look of your old frames, you’ll need to adjust to your new appearance

Still not sure what to do? Let us look at your old frames!

If you feel very strongly about using your old frames and reglazing them with a new pair of lenses, please let us look at them to help you make the final decision. Our optical staff will assess the old frames for any corrosion, dry or brittle parts, or loose hinges or screws. We’ll also check to see if your old frames are still in production, so we can order replacement parts if something breaks while putting in the new lenses. Bring your old frames to our optical stores in Overland and St. Charles, Missouri, and we’ll be happy to take a look, as well as show you new options from our high quality selection of designer frames!