Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is a vision problem that is quite common. It affects nearly a quarter of the world's population. People with this condition have the ability to see objects in the distance very well, but have a hard time seeing objects that are close up.
Signs and Symptoms
People who are farsighted sometimes suffer from eye strain and/or headaches. They may often feel tired after doing a task that requires close range focusing and find themselves squinting to see better. If you have these symptoms when you are wearing contact lenses or glasses, you may need to have an eye exam; a new prescription may be in order.
Causes
Hyperopia occurs when rays of light enter the eyes focus area behind the retina instead of falling directly upon it. The eye of a person who is farsighted is shorter than is customary. Hyperopia is already present at birth in several children. Some will outgrow the condition as the eye grows normally and begins to lengthen.
People sometimes confuse this condition with presbyopia which can also lead with problems of near vision, but by different reasons.
Available Treatments
Hyperopia can be treated by wearing eyeglasses or contacts that change how the rays of light bend into the eye. If you have contacts or glasses with a prescription that starts with plus numbers than you have hyperopia. You might need to wear them at certain times or all of the time. Refractive surgeries such as CK or LASIK can also correct farsightedness. It may eliminate or reduce the need to wear eyeglasses or contacts. There are investigative procedures that involve corneal onlays and inlays and this may be an option later on to correct farsightedness.
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