Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
A common refractive error where close-up objects appear blurry while distant vision often stays clearer -- correctable with glasses, contacts, or LASIK.
Book a Vision Correction ConsultationStruggling with near tasks like reading?
Difficulty focusing on close-up text, needing to hold things further away to see clearly, or eye strain during near work are the classic signs of hyperopia. A refraction test confirms the exact correction needed.
Already wearing glasses, considering LASIK?
If your prescription has been stable for at least a year, LASIK may be an option to reduce your dependence on glasses -- candidacy depends on the degree of hyperopia and is confirmed through corneal mapping.
What Is It?
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, occurs when the eye focuses light slightly behind the retina rather than directly on it — usually because the eyeball is slightly shorter than average, or the cornea is flatter than typical. The result is that close-up objects appear blurry, while distance vision is often less affected, especially at a younger age.
Mild hyperopia can sometimes go unnoticed for years, since the eye’s natural focusing ability can partly compensate when younger — but this compensation reduces with age, which is often when symptoms become noticeable. It’s corrected with glasses or contact lenses, and adults with a stable prescription and a suitable degree of hyperopia may also be candidates for LASIK.
Risk Factors
- Family history of hyperopia
- Often present from birth -- a naturally shorter eyeball or flatter cornea
- Becomes more noticeable with age as the eye's natural focusing ability declines
Symptoms
- Blurry vision for close-up objects
- Needing to hold reading material farther away
- Eye strain or fatigue during near work
- Headaches after reading or screen use
- Squinting to see things up close
Treatment
- Glasses or Contact Lenses: The standard, immediate correction for any degree of hyperopia.
- LASIK: Can correct mild to moderate hyperopia in suitable adult candidates with a stable prescription, confirmed through corneal mapping and a full eye health evaluation.
Related Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is a good candidate for LASIK?
What if I'm not a good candidate for LASIK?
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