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What Is Hyperopia?

Hyperopia is also known as farsightedness, long-sightedness or hypermetropia and is a common eyesight problem that affects a large number of people. People who have this condition can see objects in the distance very well but find it difficult to focus on objects that are close or near to them.

There are different degrees of hyperopia, and depending on the severity of the condition many people never realise that they have the condition as it is not severe enough to cause them any problems. A mild case of hyperopia is unlikely to be diagnosed in a standard eye test. In order to assess the extent of the condition, eye drops are placed into the eye allowing it to relax and a retinoscope is then used to look more closely at the eye. This is known as a cycloplegic exam which can help diagnose the problem so that appropriate treatment can be administered to correct the condition.

Hyperopia Symptoms

The symptoms experienced by hyperopia individuals vary from one person to another, and can include:

- Headaches

- Eye strain

- Tiredness or fatigue

- Squinting

- Aching eyes

- Irritability

- Blurred vision when trying to focus on near objects

The individual will generally experience one or more of the above when trying to focus on objects close at hand, such as when reading or using a computer. Hyperopia is caused by light entering the eye being focused behind the retina rather than on it. The light is focused in the wrong area due to the eyeball being shorter than normal. Many people are actually born with it but they grow out of it as they develop and the eyeball grows.

Hyperopia is often confused with presbyopia. Although the symptoms are very similar, presbyopia is an age related problem that usually begins during middle age when a person’s eyesight naturally begins to deteriorate. Presbyopia occurs as a person ages and the lens within the eye begins to thicken and lose its flexibility. Hyperopia is related to the shape and size of the eye and can affect people at any age.

Hyperopia Treatment

Hyperopia may be corrected by wearing glasses or contact lenses. Mild forms of it may require no treatment at all as the eye can adjust and compensate on its own to a certain degree. Depending on the severity of the problem, the person may only need to wear the glasses or contacts for close up tasks such as reading or computer work, but if severe enough then they may have to be worn all the time.

Another hyperopia treatment option is LASIK surgery and this can eliminate the need to wear glasses or contact lenses, although some patients may still need to use corrective eye wear at times. Although LASIK is normally a very successful procedure, it should not be entered into lightly as there are a number of potential complications that can occur following the LASIK surgery. Finding a good LASIK eye surgeon who can explain all the potential complications to you and also check if you are a suitable LASIK candidate is paramount to helping you decide if you should go ahead with the LASIK treatment.

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