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Long Sighted (Hyperopia)

Long sightedness, also known as hyperopia or hypermetropia, affects a persons ability to see objects nearby. People can usually see distant objects clearly, but closer objects tend to be out of focus. 

What is Long-sightedness?

In order for a person with no prescription to see things clearly beyond the distance of a small-sized room there eyes focusing muscles need to be completely relaxed. This means that all focusing ability is saved for seeing close objects clearly.

 

However, if you are long-sighted the focusing muscles are not relaxed even for the objects in the distance, which means they have to work harder in to see closer objects clearly. 

Symptoms of Long-sightedness:

People with hyperopia will find that they can see objects in the distance clearly, but things closer up are out of focus or look fuzzy.

Long-sightedness makes doing things close up difficult and more tiring for your eyes/ often this becomes too much of a strain and reading or using your phone becomes out of focus. You may find yourself squinting or holding things further way at arm's length to try and see clearer.

 

Causes of Hyperopia?

Long-sightedness happens when the light coming into the eye is not able to focus properly at the back of the eye.

This can be caused  by:

  1. The eye ball being too short. 

  2. The cornea being too flat.

  3. The lens inside the eye being unable to focus properly.

Its not always clear what causes these problems and quite often hyperopia can be inherited from your parents. 

Long-sightedness that is related to age is known as Presbyopia.

Can hyperopia be cured?

Long-sightedness can usually be corrected easily by wearing prescription glasses. This is probably the most common way of treating hyperopia and your glasses lens prescription will begin with a + to signify a plus lens power. As hyperopia can increase with age the strength or the prescription of your glasses may also need to increase. 

Contact lenses can also help correct hyperopia. This in some cases is a better and easier option than glasses, if they are hindering your lifestyle. People with hyperopia usually wear contact lenses which are + or convex shaped to achieve normal vision. Your optician will advice you on the most suitable type of contact lens for you at your contact lens assessment. Which you can book here.

Laser eye surgery may also be an option for certain people to correct their hyperopia. We would always recommend discussing this with your optometrist during your sight test, as they will be able to advise you of the options avaliable to you.

Hyeropia Vs Emmtropia. Showing the difference between those with long-sightedness and without.
This is a picture highlighting the affects of Hyperopia. It shows how with glasses the vision is clearer and less blurry than without them.
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