Hyperopia, or long‑sightedness, occurs when the eye focuses images behind the retina, making near tasks more difficult. It is usually due to the eye being too short or the cornea too flat.
Origins and Effects
Many children are mildly hyperopic at birth, with some outgrowing it as the eye develops. Higher levels can cause blurred near vision, eye strain, headaches, and in children, squint or amblyopia if uncorrected.
- Family history influences the likelihood of significant hyperopia
- Younger people can compensate using focusing effort, masking symptoms
- Age‑related loss of accommodation makes latent hyperopia more apparent
- Certain lens or corneal changes and systemic conditions can induce hyperopic shifts
Management
Hyperopia is corrected with plus‑powered glasses or contact lenses, and in some cases refractive or lens‑based surgery. Early detection in children is important to support normal visual development.
- Regular eye checks help identify hyperopia that could lead to squint or lazy eye
- Adults may need different prescriptions for distance and near as presbyopia develops
- Symptoms of strain during reading often improve with appropriate correction
- High hyperopes may be at increased risk of narrow‑angle glaucoma
