Hyperopia (long-sightedness)

What is hyperopia?

Hyperopia, or long-/far-sightedness as it is more commonly known, is the result of light focusing behind, instead of on, the retina. As a result, closer objects will appear blurry, while objects which are further away will appear relatively clear and normal. The condition can affect people of all ages, including babies and children.

It mostly occurs when a person’s eyeball is too short or the cornea is too flat. Because of this, the eye fails to focus light on the retina properly.

Symptoms include: squinting to see clearly, the feeling of strained eyes after activities that require focuses on close by objects and regular headaches.

What causes hyperopia?

There is no clear cause of hyperopia, however it’s sometimes inherited from parents who pass it onto their children through genes. Older people may also find that the lenses in their eyes become stiffer and less able to focus causing short-sightedness.

How to treat hyperopia

Fortunately, you can treat hyperopia with contact lenses. Hyperopia is easily diagnosed with a standard eye test, and, if you’re found to be long-sighted, you’ll be given a prescription by your optometrist for the lenses you need. A plus sign ( ) is used for long-sightedness and the number after it measures the strength of your prescription. As a general recommendation, you should seek an eye test every one or two years to check if your prescription has changed.

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