HYPEROPIA

Hyperopia is a term used to describe the condition of being farsighted. The causes of hyperopia are typically genetic and involve an eye that is too short or a cornea that is too flat, so that images focus at a point behind the retina. People with hyperopia can usually see distant objects well, but have trouble focusing on nearby objects.
Hyperopia Symptoms
People who have hyperopia may have trouble seeing objects that are close up. In some cases, they may not recognize that they have a vision problem, but will notice that their eyes become tired or sore during such activities as reading or writing. This is because, for mildly farsighted people, the lens of the eye has a tendency to accommodate for the refractive error. Over time, however, the lens’ ability to adjust diminishes, and people with hyperopia will need treatment to correct their vision.
Causes of Hyperopia
Like myopia, hyperopia is a genetic trait; however, instead of the eye being too long (as in myopia), it is too short, causing images to focus at a point beyond the retina. Though it is not uncommon for hyperopia to be associated with aging, getting older does not cause people to become farsighted. Rather, the aging process hinders the eye’s focusing ability, which can sometimes make pre-existing hyperopia more evident. Learn more about age-related farsightedness (presbyopia).
Hyperopia Diagnosis
If the causes of hyperopia are present in a child’s family, the child has a good chance of inheriting the condition. However, a typical grade-school screening or visual acuity test will usually not be adequate to detect hyperopia. An ophthalmologist, through a comprehensive eye exam, will be able to not only detect problems, but can determine the degree and ideal treatments for those problems as well. Young people with mild hyperopia may not need corrective lenses or any type of treatment while people who are older or are severely farsighted will have a variety of treatment options available to them.
Moderate to Severe Hyperopia
People with hyperopia are considered farsighted because they can generally see objects in the distance more clearly than objects up close. People who are moderately or severely farsighted, however, may have trouble seeing objects at any distance. If the refractive error is bad enough, the lens will not be able to accommodate for it and treatment will become necessary. Children who are severely farsighted have a higher risk for strabismus (crossed eyes) or amblyopia (lazy eye), so they should be examined and treated accordingly.
Degree of Farsighted Vision
Just like myopia, the degree of hyperopia is measured in diopters, which are units of measurement that describe lens strength. Myopic prescriptions have negative numbers and measurements of hyperopia are made with positive numbers. A person with a prescription of +2.0 diopters or less has mild hyperopia. A degree of hyperopia of between +2.0 and +4.0 diopters considered moderate. Someone who is severely farsighted will need a prescription of +4.0 diopters or higher.