Which refractive error is characterized by difficulty seeing distant objects?

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is the refractive error characterized by difficulty seeing distant objects clearly. This occurs when the eyeball is slightly elongated or the cornea has too much curvature, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. As a result, while near objects can be seen clearly, distant objects appear blurry or out of focus.

Conversely, hyperopia (farsightedness) affects the ability to see close objects clearly, and presbyopia is related to age-related changes in the eye that affect near vision, typically occurring around middle age. Astigmatism is due to an irregular shape of the cornea or lens, leading to blurred vision at any distance but is not specifically linked to distance vision like myopia is.