Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

What is Hyperopia?

Hyperopia, in other words – farsightedness, is a vision problem where the light is focused behind the retina causing a blurry image. Under normal conditions, the light focused by the eye’s lens and cornea is on the retina. However, a focus exactly on the retina can be a perfect condition which is not usual. The average person is slightly hyperopic, and the hyperopic eye can vary in severity. This common vision problem is seen among a fourth of the population.

Hyperopic people can see distant objects clearly but find it difficult while focusing on objects up close. Hyperopia can also be referred to as ‘hypermetropia’, or longsightedness. You probably know the term as farsightedness, meaning that the person can view things from afar, but struggles to focus on objects closer to them.  

How does this affect vision?

It is the effort on focusing relative to the amount of hyperopia you experience that leads to various symptoms. Although a hyperopic person could have normal vision, as the degree of this eye condition increases, it becomes harder for the person to comfortably focus their eyes. Blurry vision for up close objects is caused specifically because of this effort in focusing. This focusing process leads to headaches and tired eyes, especially after a lot of visual work. Reading gets difficult with hyperopia, as can drawing, embroidery, working on detailed models or mechanics and a range of other tasks.

With so many of us needing to sit down at digital screens for hours a day as part of both work and leisure time, those with farsighted vision can quickly become overwhelmed by the extra strain and find their condition worsening. If you do suspect you have hyperopia, due to either your everyday experience or genetic factors, waiting to take action will only risk the problem becoming worse. We need to take care of our eyes as much as possible and address problems as early as we can, in order to enjoy good eyesight even as we age.  

Symptoms of hyperopia

If you suspect you may be farsighted, there are a number of symptoms you can cross check with your own experience that hyperopia causes. These include:

• Blurred vision when looking at nearby objects.
• Squinting to see clearly, especially when reading small notices, text on your phone or computer screen, and books or newspapers.
• Experiencing aching eyes or eye strain after a day’s work.
• Regular headaches caused by computer work, reading, detailed close work such as sewing, mechanical repairs and drawing.

If you’re experiencing pain, regular eye strain or headaches exacerbated by close work, the best course of action is to organise an appointment with your eyecare specialist immediately. Even if the problem isn’t hyperopia, these aren’t normal sensations, and there’s no reason to struggle with pain and discomfort without reason. An optometrist will be able to quickly determine what factors are causing your discomfort, and organise a treatment to get you feeling pain-free at the computer or while reading.  

What causes hyperopia?

Whether or not you have hyperopia depends on a few factors. The size of your eyeball is the culprit for the actual inability to focus, the eye itself is slightly shorter than normal which can cause hyperopia. Because of this smaller size, the light entering the eye forms a focus behind the retina, instead of on it, causing a blurred effect. Often, hyperopia is passed down from your parents and grandparents, and so is considered to be hereditary.

Does hyperopia change with age?

As we age, the muscles in our eyes and their flexibility start to weaken. This can often correlate with a worsening of existing eye conditions, but not all the time. Certainly, as we get older, focusing on closer objects gets more and more difficult. Our eye muscles struggle to constrict and relax with as much ease as they once did. If you do have hyperopia, you may face trouble sooner and require prescription glasses at an earlier stage. This is absolutely fine! It just means that your eyes are working extra hard as it is to focus, so booking an eye test and getting the glasses you need to ease their strain is a great idea.

How is it diagnosed?

While you might feel a special sense of dread at the thought of booking an eye test, the method of diagnosing hyperopia is simple and easy. Your optometrist will administer several special tests such as retinoscopy and refraction to help reach a diagnosis. The reason why a letter chart can miss hyperopia is because a hyperopic person often can see well in the distance, which is why optometrists have developed other, more targeted tests to get to the bottom of the issue.

What do we do about hyperopia?

When deciding how best to treat hyperopia, it’s helpful to consider the symptoms. Often, the average person is a little hyperopic but doesn’t experience problems with their eyesight. However, if you do find yourself experiencing headaches, trouble focusing, eye strain and other discomfort, it’s a good idea to seek professional help as soon as possible. Not only will this help you get your comfortable, focused vision back, but it can prevent your eyesight from worsening unnecessarily over time.  

Eye exercises, reading spectacles, contact lenses and glasses designed to limit harmful blue light from screens can all benefit your vision enormously. In Australia, investing in good quality sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays is also a good call. In terms of having a high amount of hyperopia, spectacles with suitable prescription lenses can correct the problem as otherwise focusing requires a lot more effort without spectacles. Another option is a refractive surgery such as a Laser Eye Surgery or Conductive Keratoplasty that may reduce or even eliminate the need of wearing spectacles or contact lenses at all.

1001 Optometry - here to help you see clearly

Whether you’ve been struggling with your eyesight for a while or have just begun to notice trouble focusing, there’s no downsides to booking an eye test as soon as possible. At 1001 Optometry, we make the whole process easy, from helping you prepare for your eye test, to assisting with Medicare coverage and health insurance claims. Get in touch with us today and start enjoying more comfortable, in focus vision that can help you stay involved in all of life’s little details.