US High School Psychology Practice Exam

If a person has difficulty seeing distant objects, what condition do they have?

1. Farsightedness

2. Nearsightedness

3. Astigmatism

4. Presbyopia

The correct answer is: Nearsightedness

The condition where a person has difficulty seeing distant objects is known as nearsightedness, or myopia. In individuals with myopia, the eye's shape causes light rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. This results in clear vision for objects that are close, while distant objects appear blurry. Farsightedness, on the other hand, is when individuals have trouble seeing nearby objects clearly while distant ones are more in focus. Astigmatism results from an irregular curvature of the eye, leading to distorted or blurred vision at all distances. Lastly, presbyopia is a condition associated with aging, where the eye's ability to focus on close objects decreases, impacting near vision. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why nearsightedness is the correct answer for difficulty with distance vision.