Hyperopia
More commonly referred to as farsightedness, hyperopia is a refractive error of the eye where objects that are far away are seen more clearly than nearby objects. Hyperopia occurs when:
- The eyeball is too short
- The cornea is flat (has too little curvature)
Due to this, the eye is unable to correctly focus the light which enters it, resulting in difficulty focusing on objects that are up close.
Hyperopia - Symptoms
If you are farsighted, you involuntarily make a greater effort to see objects up close. This can cause eye-fatigue and other symptoms such as:
- Eye strain
- Blurry vision of nearby objects
- Constant squinting
- Aching sensation in your eyes
- Headaches after close work
- Poor reading ability
- Difficulty maintaining a clear vision of an object up close
- Difficulty concentrating
Hyperopia - Diagnosis
While a normal vision test is often ineffective in diagnosing hyperopia, a more thorough eye examination involving a phoropter can accurately assess the condition and determine the correct eyeglass prescription.
Hyperopia - Correction
While hyperopia cannot be prevented, it can be very successfully managed.
- Mild cases - Your eyes may be able to compensate adequately without the need for corrective lenses, although glasses for reading may be recommended.
- More severe cases - Full time wear of prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. For appropriate candidates, laser eye surgery can be considered.
Our eye care specialists can help you decide which treatment option is right for you.
