What is Hyperopia?
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, as it is medically termed, is a vision condition in which distant objects can be seen clearly, but close ones do not come into proper focus. Farsightedness occurs if your eyeball is too short or the cornea has too little curvature. In these cases, your eye can't correctly focus the light that enters it. Some people may not notice any problems with their vision, especially when they are young. For people with significant hyperopia, vision can be blurry for objects at any distance, near or far. Hyperopia usually is inherited and children who are hyperopic often become less hyperopic as adults.
Signs and Symptoms
Common signs of hyperopia include difficulty concentrating and maintaining a clear focus on near objects, eye strain, squinting, Blurry vision, especially for close objects fatigue and/or headaches after close work, aching or burning eyes, and irritability or nervousness after sustained concentration.
- Crossing of the eyes in children (esotropia)
Causes and Risk Factors
This vision problem occurs when light rays entering the eye focus behind the retina, rather than directly on it. The eyeball of a farsighted person is shorter than normal.
Many children are born farsighted, and some of them "outgrow" it as the eyeball lengthens with normal growth. Sometimes people confuse hyperopia with presbyopia, which also causes near vision problems but for different reasons. Hyperopia develops in eyes that focus images behind the retina instead of on the retina, which can result in blurred vision. This occurs when the eyeball is too short, which prevents incoming light from focusing directly on the retina. It may also be caused by an abnormal shape of the cornea or lens.
People whose parents have hyperopia may also be more likely to get the condition.
Many children are born farsighted, and some of them "outgrow" it as the eyeball lengthens with normal growth. Sometimes people confuse hyperopia with presbyopia, which also causes near vision problems but for different reasons. Hyperopia develops in eyes that focus images behind the retina instead of on the retina, which can result in blurred vision. This occurs when the eyeball is too short, which prevents incoming light from focusing directly on the retina. It may also be caused by an abnormal shape of the cornea or lens.
People whose parents have hyperopia may also be more likely to get the condition.
How is Hyperopia diagnosed?
An eye care professional can diagnose hyperopia and other refractive errors during a comprehensive dilated eye examination. People with this condition often visit their eye care professional with complaints of visual discomfort or blurred vision. Hyperopia can be diagnosed by a careful refraction by an ophthalmologist.
For children and young adults, a cycloplegic refraction may be necessary to diagnose the correct amount of hyperopia. The focusing mechanism of the eye can mask the full amount of hyperopia but, during a cycloplegic refraction, eye drops are given to paralyze this mechanism so the true amount of hyperopia can be measured and corrected if needed.
For children and young adults, a cycloplegic refraction may be necessary to diagnose the correct amount of hyperopia. The focusing mechanism of the eye can mask the full amount of hyperopia but, during a cycloplegic refraction, eye drops are given to paralyze this mechanism so the true amount of hyperopia can be measured and corrected if needed.
Treatment
- Farsightedness can be corrected with glasses to change the way light rays bend into the eyes. If your glasses or contact lens prescription begins with plus numbers, like +2.50, you are farsighted. You may need to wear your glasses or contacts all the time or only when reading, working on a computer or doing other close-up work.
- Contact Lenses work by becoming the first refractive surface for light rays entering the eye, causing a more precise refraction or focus. In many cases, contact lenses provide clearer vision, a wider field of vision, and greater comfort. They are a safe and effective option if fitted and used properly. However, contact lenses are not right for everyone. Discuss this with your eye care professional.
- Refractive surgery, such as LASIK or CK, is another option for correcting hyperopia. Refractive Surgery aims to permanently change the shape of the cornea which will improve refractive vision. Surgery can decrease or eliminate dependency on wearing eyeglasses and contact lenses. There are many types of refractive surgeries and surgical options should be discussed with an eye care professional.
- Investigational procedures involving corneal implants may be a future option for correcting hyperopia.
Extra Info
The National Eye Institute (NEI) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is the Federal government’s lead agency for vision research that leads to sight-saving treatments and plays a key role in reducing visual impairment and blindness.