What is Hyperopia?
Hyperopia, often called farsightedness, is a common vision condition where distant objects are seen clearly, but close objects appear blurry. It occurs when light entering the eye focuses behind the retina instead of directly on it. This misfocus happens because the eyeball is either too short, or the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye) or lens has insufficient focusing power.
How Hyperopia Affects Vision
In a hyperopic eye, the parallel light rays from distant objects converge behind the retina. For near objects, this misfocus is even more pronounced, causing significant blur. The eye's lens can sometimes compensate by increasing its curvature (a process called accommodation) to shift the focal point forward. However, this effort can lead to eye strain, fatigue, and headaches, especially during prolonged reading or close-up work, and becomes harder with age.
Causes and Symptoms
The primary causes of hyperopia are a shorter-than-average eyeball or a flatter-than-normal cornea/lens. Many people are born with hyperopia, and it can be hereditary. Common symptoms include difficulty focusing on nearby objects, eye strain, headaches, and squinting. In children, severe uncorrected hyperopia can contribute to amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eyes) as the brain favors the clearer eye or struggles to align vision.
Correction and Management
Hyperopia is typically corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses that have convex (plus-powered) lenses. These lenses help to converge light rays sooner, moving the focal point onto the retina. Refractive surgery, such as LASIK or PRK, can also reshape the cornea to permanently adjust its focusing power. Regular eye exams are important for diagnosis and managing hyperopia, especially as the eye's accommodative ability decreases with age (presbyopia).