HYPEROPIA
Farsightedness (Hyperopia)
Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, makes it hard to see things up close, like words in a book. It can give you headaches or strain your eyes. But don’t worry! You can fix it with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. Just talk to an eye doctor to figure out what’s best for you.
What is hyperopia (farsightedness)?
Hyperopia, commonly known as farsightedness, affects individuals by causing blurry vision when attempting to focus on close-up objects. People with hyperopia typically experience clear vision when looking at objects farther away, typically at distances of at least 6 meters or nearly 20 feet. However, they encounter difficulties focusing on nearby items. In instances of significant hyperopia, vision may remain blurry regardless of distance. Additionally, individuals with hyperopia may experience eyestrain, headaches, and fatigue, particularly after prolonged periods of close work. Proper corrective lenses or surgery can often improve vision for those with hyperopia.
The way your eye is shaped can affect if you have a bit of trouble seeing things up close, which is called hyperopia. This is influenced by how long your eye is and the curve of the front part of your eye, called the cornea. The shape of your eye decides how it takes in and deals with light so you can see properly.
You can’t change how your eye is shaped, and hyperopia isn’t a serious eye problem. It just means your eye has a bit of trouble focusing light. It’s pretty common and can be fixed.
If you’re having trouble seeing things close up, you should see an eye doctor. They’ll do a quick and painless test to check your vision and figure out if you need help to focus better. You might need glasses, contact lenses, or even surgery, depending on what’s best for you. Your doctor will explain all the options and help you choose what works for you.
How common is hyperopia?
Around the world, about 4.6% of kids and 30.9% of grown-ups might have hyperopia, a vision issue. The exact number changes in studies because researchers use different ways to count.
Here’s a simpler version:
When studies include people over 40, the number of cases might go up. That’s because as you get older, you’re more likely to have presbyopia, which is when it’s hard to see things close up. Presbyopia happens because of changes in your eyes as you age, not the same reasons as hyperopia.
Can hyperopia be corrected?
Yes. To correct hyperopia, your provider may recommend:
Eyeglasses: Glasses help fix farsightedness by adjusting how light goes into your eyes. How much farsightedness you have decides what kind of glasses you need and how much you should wear them. Wearing your glasses as directed can make things clearer and easier to see.
Contact lenses: Contact lenses are like mini glasses that help your eyes see better. They’re small and go right on your eyes. They’re comfy and easy to use most of the time. But sometimes, they can cause issues like dry eyes or infections. Also, some people might find them tricky to put in or take out. And if you don’t take care of them well, they can get dirty and make your eyes feel uncomfortable.
Surgery: If you have trouble seeing far away, you might decide to have surgery to fix it. There are different kinds of surgeries depending on how bad your eyesight is. One option is LASIK surgery. It’s good for people with mild trouble seeing far away. It uses a laser to change the shape of your eye’s surface. Another option is refractive lens exchange. It’s for people with more serious trouble seeing far away. This surgery swaps your eye’s natural lens with a special lens to help you see better.
