Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

Hyperopia, unlike normal vision, occurs when the overall focusing power of the eye is too little.  This is usually because the cornea is too flat (not powerful enough) in relation to the length of the eye, and this causes light to focus at a point beyond the retina, resulting in blurry close vision and occasionally blurry distance vision as well. Usually this condition is undetected until later in life because the young eye is able to compensate for the hyperopia by contracting internal eye muscles that change the focus of the eye by changing the shape of the young flexible internal lens.  As the eye ages, the lens loses its flexibility bringing on the symptoms of both hyperopia in those patients that have it, as well as the symptoms of presbyopia in everyone.

Light focuses beyond the retina causing
blurry close vision
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Symptoms of hyperopia:

• 	Near vision is blurred while objects in the distance appear clear

  Blurry close vision, and need for reading glasses at an earlier age than usual
• Occasionally, blurry distance vision, especially when approaching the age of presbyopia.

Causes of hyperopia:

• Heredity

Diagnosing hyperopia:

Many people are not diagnosed with hyperopia without a complete eye exam. School screenings typically do not detect this condition because they test only for distance vision, which can still be apparently normal especially in a young eye able to compensate as explained above. Your eye doctor can conduct a refractive evaluation to determine whether your eyes focus light rays exactly on the retina at distance and near. A visual acuity test will determine your ability to see sharply and clearly at all distances. Your eye doctor will also check your eye coordination and muscle control, as well as your eyes' ability to change focus. All of these are important factors in how your eyes see.

Treatment of hyperopia:

While glasses and contact lenses are used by many for the temporary treatment of hyperopia, there are now a number of vision correction procedures that can surgically reduce or eliminate hyperopia.

Other types of refractive errors include: nearsightedness and presbyopia.