Hypermetropia (Farsightedness)

If you see distant objects clear and the near ones blurry, there is a high chance that you are suffering from hypermetropia. Now, you may ask what it is. Hold on – here is a simplified guide from which you can learn about the possible reasons, signs, and symptoms of this condition. Also, you will get to know the available diagnostic procedures for treating your hypermetropic eyes!

Hypermetropia, or long-sightedness, is a refractive error of the eyes caused when light rays from nearby objects do not focus on the retinal layer and instead form the virtual image on its back. You will experience poor near vision that gradually worsens over time. The standard treatment methods are wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses, with the most precise option being refractive eye surgery!

Hypermetropia: A General Overview

Hyperopia causes distorted vision and may result in severe headaches and eye stress. Due to excessive flattening of the cornea and shortening of the eyeball, people cannot adequately accommodate the incoming light rays from objects. This causes individuals to view closer objects out of focus and leads to unnecessary pressure on the eyes.

How common is hypermetropia?

According to global analysis, hyperopia affects around 35% of the population, with children making up almost 4.5% and adults making up the remaining. However, middle-aged people who already have presbyopic eyes are at a higher risk of developing hyperopia.

Hypermetropic conditions: What are the types?

Depending on the stage of progress, hypermetropia can be categorized into three major types. They are as follows:  

  • Simple hyperopia:  It is caused by structural disruptions in the eye, such as lengthening of the eyeball, thickening of the cornea, etc.
  • Pathological hyperopia:  Common reasons are abnormal eye development, traumatic responses and diseases.
  • Functional hyperopia:  When the eyes get paralyzed and become unable to accommodate light rays, functional hyperopia occurs. Common triggers are cycloplegic drugs, nervous breakdown, or internal ophthalmoplegia.

Signs and symptoms of hypermetropia

Signs of hypermetropia do not appear early, but you may experience difficulty visualizing nearby objects. The eye muscles get continuously strained due to such a condition, and here’s what you may expect:

  • Images appearing distorted and hazy (of close objects)
  • Unexplained fatigue and headache
  • Difficulty reading small letters written in books
  • Frequent double vision
  • Mild to severe pain in the eyes
  • Squinting while reading books

If detected early, all the above-mentioned symptoms can be managed well with a pair of corrective glasses. But if the condition has already worsened due to delayed treatment, refractive surgery is the one-stop solution for you!  

Hypermetropia: Possible Causes Explained

There might be many causes for hyperopic eyes. However, the most common of them are:

  • Having an eyeball that is comparatively small or round (from front to back):  In medical terms, this is known as “reduced axial length.” causing the eyes to refract the light rays more and fall much behind the retinal layer, thus disrupting focus.
  • When the cornea is more flattened than normal:  A cornea with normal curvature allows the incident rays to fall at a perfect right angle, thus forming a clear image of the retina. However, an over-flattened cornea cannot do that and results in blurry vision.

Worry not—with the help of a certified ophthalmologist, you can easily evaluate your eyes and determine whether you need corrective treatments or surgery to enhance your visual acuity.

What are the risk factors for hypermetropia?

Genes play a crucial role in contributing to hyperopia. However, there are many other risk factors, such as:

  • Smoking during pregnancy:  The nicotine present in cigarette smoke is highly responsible for activating the retinal receptors, leading to refractive errors like hyperopia. Moreover, it can damage the optic nerve in the long run.  
  • Progressing age:  As one grows old, the flexibility of the eye lens decreases, making it much more prone towards refractive issues.  

Other medical conditions: These include:

  • Cortical cataract 
  • Aphakia 
  • Hyperglycemia 
  • Diabetes mellitus 
  • Prolonged space mission 
  • Peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome (PPS) 
  • Heimler syndrome
  • Kenny syndrome
  • Achromatopsia
  • Down’s syndrome
  • Fragile X syndrome

Possible complications for a prolonged untreated hypermetropia

If left untreated, hyperopia may result in persistent discomfort, such as headaches and excessive eye strain, making it even more difficult to perform routine tasks. Moreover, children who have a greater degree of hyperopia are at a high risk of developing amblyopia or strabismus. Thus, one must prioritise eye health and arrange for early visual examinations to detect refractive errors like hyperopia before the condition worsens.

Diagnostic procedures for hypermetropic eyes

Several processes are available for diagnosing long-sightedness. After you visit an eyecare specialist, he will conduct the following methods to check whether your visual health is normal. Here is a comprehensive step-by-step guide that you can expect.

1. Checking eye health history

Irrespective of the condition you have, an ophthalmologist will inquire these following aspects pertaining to your eye symptoms. Common questions are:

  • How do your eyes feel while reading books?  
  • For how long have you been facing discomfort?
  • Do you often experience pain in the head or any other symptom?  
  • Do you feel any throbbing pain or discomfort in the eyeball?
  • Were you infected by any eye disease previously?
  • Is there any existing eye infection or allergy?
  • Did you get any eye surgery recently?
  • Are you into smoking or have a tendency of heavy drinking?
  • Are you pregnant?
  • How often do you wash your eyes and maintain their hygiene?

2. Testing methods

Following are the ways in which an eye specialist will look into your condition.

  • Visual acuity test: The doctor will make you read out letters from the Snellen’s chart. Generally, different font sizes are available - right from small to big ones, and this is very helpful for preparing a personalized treatment approach that would be most appropriate for you.  
  • Refraction Test: Useful in preparing an eye prescription in order to maintain an optimal vision. Also, it helps to assess if your eyes can focus both on nearby and distant objects with the same visual clarity.
  • Pupil dilation:Specialized eye drops are used to dilate the pupil. This allows the eyecare provider to thoroughly examine the retina and lens.
  • Slit-lamp examination: It is useful for obtaining detailed insights of the internal structures of your eyes, including the lens. Consequently, it allows in preparation of a suitable treatment plan that best suits of your hypermetropic eyes.   

All the mentioned eye tests are pain-free and do not require any surgical intervention. 

If you find trouble to see things clearly, we are more than happy to help. Arrange an appointment with our optometrist and get early treatment.

How do you treat hypermetropia?

Although hyperopia cannot be fully cured, your ophthalmologist may suggest the following ways to manage it.

  • Plus-powered eyeglasses:  help to change the way light rays fall so that they directly hit the retinal layer. However, depending on the severity of your eye condition, the doctor will recommend how frequently you wear them.  
  • Contact lenses:  are a convenient alternative to corrective eyeglasses. They are small, fit well, and do not cause discomfort. However, keeping your contacts clean and dirt-free is crucial to avoid potential eye infections.
  • Refractive surgeries: These include LASIK and LASEK surgeries, depending on the issue's intensity. Surgical procedures involve using a laser to reshape the corneal surface. Another method is laser thermal keratoplasty, which can correct mild to severe farsightedness and astigmatism.
  • Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK): In this procedure, laser light flattens the corneal surface, allowing the incident light rays to focus on the retina. Although the recovery time is longer than other laser-induced surgeries, this procedure is highly suitable for those having irregular and thinner cornea.   
  • Intracorneal inlays: These are thin synthetic strips of biocompatible material inserted into the corneal stroma beneath corneal flaps or within intra-stromal pockets. They are done with the help of a laser and increase the anterior corneal curvature to correct refractive problems like hypermetropia.
  • Phakic Intraocular Lens : The procedure involves placing an artificial lens surgically without interrupting the eye's natural lens. Also known as pIOLs, these are attached in front of the iris or its back. The procedure is performed once and takes about 2 to 4 weeks to recover.   

Preventive steps you can adopt

Once you have developed hyperopic eyes, there is no going back. However, you can always adopt the following lifestyle habits to maintain visual health.

  • Eating a nutrient-rich diet: For good eyes, try including organic foods rich in nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and lutein. Eat seasonal fruits and green vegetables as much as possible to protect your eyes from damage due to ageing and other environmental factors.  
  • Getting regular eye exams: They can detect underlying problems early, preventing potential long-term damage to your eyes. Putting protective eyewear: This involves wearing sunglasses to keep out harmful UV rays from entering the eyes, which can damage the lens shortly.   
  • Giving pause to the eyes: Looking at digital screens for long hours can unnecessarily strain your eyes and contribute to refractive eye disorders in the long term. So, it is best to rest the eyes and exercise to relieve stress.
  • Checking other health conditions: Systemic malfunctions such as high blood pressure and blood sugar can lead to permanent damage if left untreated. So, try to manage them early to avert potential complications.
  • Avoiding eye wounds: Wear protective eyewear before participating in any sports activity to prevent accidental injuries. This will significantly lessen the chances of eye damage.

Homely Tips for Preventing Hypermetropia

Here’s a list of tips you can follow at home to prevent hypermetropia.

  • Performing your tasks in a well-lit place: Maintaining enough light in the room while you work might avert potential long-sightedness symptoms. Ensure that the light source is near you as close as possible to reduce glares and shadows.  
  • Ensuring proper eye hygiene: Try to wash your eyes at regular intervals, especially after spending time outside. This helps remove dirt and potentially harmful particulate material from the eyes and maintains visual clarity.
  • Surfacing the eyeglasses with anti-glare material: These coatings minimize light reflections and improve visual acuity. This method is useful when you spend too long in front of the computer or mobile screens, making it a practical solution for performing routine activities.

When do you need to visit the doctor?

If you develop hypermetropia, your eye specialist will guide you on the steps to prevent symptoms from worsening. Also, he may ask you to attend follow-ups as and when required. Moreover, he will let you know how often you must visit. Generally, this depends on how severe the condition has become. Here’s a list of scenarios when you should immediately consult an ophthalmologist.

  • Persistent headaches that come in waves
  • Unexplained eye pain that gradually deteriorates over time
  • Exacerbation of existing symptoms
  • Side effects from medicines that you currently take

Conclusion: Get crystal-clear vision with the help of our top ophthalmologists!

Like other eye conditions, hypermetropia is a condition that cannot be fully recovered. However, it is possible to manage hypermetropic eyes with corrective treatment prescriptions and surgical procedures. Thus, if you have been experiencing trouble seeing nearby objects for an extended period, do not sit back anymore. Visit Vision Cure Clinic at the earliest and get ready to look at the world from a completely new perspective! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Genetic predisposition plays a significant role in the development of hypermetropia. Thus, if you have a family member who suffers from this condition, chances are that you may develop it sooner or later. But panic not—there are many treatment options for hypermetropic eyes.

Hypermetropia and presbyopia both cause blurred vision when looking closely at objects. However, they are not the same. Presbyopia is a part of the natural ageing process when the lens loses its flexibility, while hypermetropia is caused by corneal issues.

No, hypermetropia is not preventable. At the most, you can follow steps to maintain your eye health and practice preventive measures to protect normal vision. However, you can manage the severity of hypermetropia if you develop it at any point.

Glasses and contact lenses are the most standard treatment options for managing hypermetropia. These can help curb this condition's progression rate and protect your vision from further deterioration. Moreover, you must visit the doctor frequently to monitor the power of your eyes – whether it has stabilized or not.

Laser surgery is one of the many available options for people suffering from hypermetropia. However, consider consulting with your doctor first to decide whether it will suit you.

Symptoms include vision blurriness, headaches, and tired eyes, often associated with redness.

Most children may face moderate symptoms of hyperopia in the early stages of life. It generally resolves on its own by the time they reach adolescence. However, if the issue is severe, a complex condition known as amblyopia may develop, often responsible for permanent blindness in children.

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