Means a person sees things clearer at far (hence the term farsighted) and blurred for near vision

  • Eye is shorter or less curved than normal, causing light to focus behind the back of the eye (retina)
  • Genetic tendency
  • Moderate to severe is usually at birth, thus the need to an examination between 1-3 yrs.
  • If undetected, at high risk of developing a permanent lazy eye
  • CAN BE EASILY MISSED DURING A SCHOOL VISION SCREENING
  • Usually NOT progressive. Can sometimes diminish during adolescence.
  • NOT considered an eye disease, just a normal variation in the shape of your eye; a hyperopic eye is a healthy eye, it just focuses light slightly off target.
  • Corrected with Glasses, Contact lenses, or Refractive surgery
 
Farsighted Eye (Focus behind the eye)   Normal Eye (Focus on the back of the eye)
How print would look with someone who needs reading glasses

SYMPTOMS

  • Difficulty focusing objects closer than 2 feet
  • Tired eyes, Headache, or eyestrain after reading or computer work
  • Red or watering eyes especially when performing close tasks
  • Notice one eye turning in (especially in infants and children)
  • Poor reading and/or school skills
  • Reluctance to do homework or close vision tasks




Hyperopia and Children 

  • Infancy:
    Large amounts of hyperopia are present at birth and should be addressed within the first year or two of life. Failure to do so could result in poor eye development. This can lead to a crossed and /or lazy eye (amblyopia).A lazy eye develops when the eye doesn't receive a clear image to process in the early years of life. When and if a lens is finally placed in front of the eye, the brain can not process the image, thus leaving the vision blurred, Unfortunately at this point, there is no additional lens available that can provide clear vision. An example would be if you just a cast removed from your arm for 6 months, your arm would be useless without proper stimulation (therapy).
  • School age:
    Hyperopia can only be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye/health examination. Hyperopia often goes undetected and its symptoms are very subtle to non-existent Even though small amounts of farsightness can be normal, it can adversely effect a child's school performance. Sometimes the only difference between a struggling and a confident student is simply a pair of reading glasses.

How is Hyperopia treated?

  • GLASSES:
    As with other refractive errors, corrective lenses are prescribed to help focus light more effectively on the retina. Depending on the degree of hyperopia, glasses may be needed all of the time for clear vision. If the degree of impairment is slight, glasses may be needed only for reading and computer vision.

    *Some times bifocals are given to children to help them better function in school so they don't have to keep taking their glasses on and off when looking at the blackboard.

     
    What the print would look like to a child with normal vision.   Here is an example of what a child with farsightedness might see. Can you appreciate the eye strain?
       
  • CONTACT LENSES: Click here for more information.
  • REFRACTIVE SURGERY: Not as common, click here for more information.

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