Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness or hypermetropia, is a vision issue that can make it difficult to see things clearly when they’re up close. For less severe cases of hyperopia, people can still see things that are far away clearly, but people with high levels of hyperopia may struggle to see clearly no matter the distance.
For a person with normal vision, light entering the eye is redirected to focus on the retina (the part of the eye that turns light into what you see). Hyperopia happens when the eye can’t bend light properly. It’s typically caused by a person either having a shorter eyeball than normal or a cornea that’s flatter than normal. This eye shape means light will focus behind the retina instead of on it, resulting in blurry vision. Farsightedness is usually something you’re born with, and it can run in families.
In the United States, hyperopia is one of the most common vision issues, affecting about 10% of the population overall. Most full-term infants are born with low levels of hyperopia that corrects itself as the child develops. At 12 months of age, the prevalence drops to about 3.6%, and increases to almost 10% for adults 40 and older.
Hyperopia symptoms can vary from person to person—the severity of farsightedness (shorter eyeball or flatter cornea) can impact how severe a person’s symptoms are. For example, people with mild hyperopia may not even notice they have it, while people with severe hyperopia may have blurry vision at all distances. That said, some of the most common symptoms include:
If you experience these hypermetropia symptoms, a comprehensive eye exam can provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.
It’s possible that farsightedness can be detected during a vision screening test when a child is in school, but low levels of hyperopia often go undetected. For a definitive measure of whether or not you or your child have hyperopia, you’ll need to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with a qualified eye care professional. They’ll perform a number of tests including a refraction assessment to determine what your vision is like, and recommend treatment options if needed. Early diagnosis and correction is important, not only because it can improve daily life by reducing eye strain, but also certain types of hyperopia can increase the chance of amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” which tends to be easier to treat the younger a person is.
Perhaps surprisingly, treatment isn’t always needed for hyperopia because the crystalline lenses inside some peoples’ eyes are able to compensate for the shorter eye or flatter cornea. Always consult your doctor for diagnosis and potential treatment options, and whether any of the possible treatments below may be suitable for your situation When treatment is needed, common hyperopia treatments may include:
Eyeglasses for hyperopia are made to correct for the shorter eye or flatter cornea associated with hyperopia. Glasses are a classic, simple way to correction vision and come in a variety of types, including single vision, bifocals, and trifocals.
Choosing glasses for farsightedness
Contact lenses work in much the same way as eyeglasses, only they rest on your cornea. You can find them in a variety of brands, designs and price points.
Procedures like LASIK reshape the cornea to correct refractive errors, offering a potential solution for hyperopic individuals.
In the U.S., hyperopia is often underdiagnosed, especially in young children who may not recognize symptoms. Early diagnosis and correction can improve daily life by reducing eye strain, but it’s also important to note that certain kinds of hyperopia can also lead to amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” which is more effectively treated when a person is young. This is why annual eye exams are essential to identifying and managing hyperopia.
Consult your eye care professional for more information. Johnson & Johnson does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.
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