Hyperopia: What Is It, Symptoms, Causes, and How to Overcome It?

Hyperopia is a vision disorder where your eyes focus less on nearby objects compared to distant ones.

What Is Hyperopia?

Although hyperopia is known as a problem with near vision, those with hyperopia may also struggle to see distant objects clearly, especially after a certain age. Therefore, hyperopia is not solely a near vision issue. However, compared to distance vision, they see nearby objects less clearly.

To fully understand the condition of hyperopia, it is essential to grasp how a normal eye functions. The cornea and lens are significantly responsible for focusing the eye. The cornea is the transparent and frontmost surface of the eye. The lens, on the other hand, is a structure that changes shape as it focuses on objects within the eye. The cornea and lens work together to refract incoming light and then focus it on the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer located at the back of the eyeball. The retina receives visual information and sends it to the brain via the optic nerve. With perfectly shaped lenses and corneas, a sharply focused image is provided. However, if the shape of the cornea is abnormal, the eye cannot focus correctly.

There are varying degrees of hyperopia based on the eye's ability to focus on nearby objects. If you have difficulty seeing nearby objects clearly or experience headaches while reading up close, you may be hyperopic.

What Causes Hyperopia?

When your eyes focus on light rays, they send the image of what you are looking at to your brain. When you are hyperopic, the light rays cannot focus as they should. The reason for your blurred vision is either that the front-to-back axis of your eye is shorter than normal or that your focusing power has weakened. In this situation, the image is formed behind the retina, in an incorrect location. As a result, difficulties, especially in near focus, arise.

What Are the Symptoms of Hyperopia?

Symptoms that indicate you may be hyperopic include:

• Inability to focus on nearby objects
• Pain in the head region
• Blurred vision
• Eye fatigue
• Fatigue or headache after reading something

If you experience these symptoms even while wearing glasses or contact lenses, you may need a new prescription or treatment. It is highly recommended that you consult your doctor.

How Is Hyperopia Diagnosed?

The only thing required to diagnose hyperopia is a basic eye examination. Your doctor will present you with a chart to read. Additionally, a device called a retinoscope may be used during the examination to check how light reflects from your retina, or automated devices called autorefractors are used to perform these measurements. To determine the best prescription for glasses or lenses, a testing device known as a phoropter or trial frame may also be used.

Adult Eye Examinations
Adults who do not experience vision problems should begin having regular eye examinations starting at age 40. Between the ages of 40 and 54, it is recommended to have an examination every 2 to 4 years; between the ages of 55 and 64, every 1 to 3 years; and if you are over 65, every 1 to 2 years.

If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or family members with eye diseases, it is important not to wait until age 40 to have an eye examination and to start having regular eye check-ups.

Child Eye Examinations
Infants should be examined immediately after birth because one of the most significant causes of amblyopia (lazy eye) that can occur in children is uncorrected hyperopia. The risk of amblyopia is particularly high in hyperopic children with a difference of 2 diopters or more between the two eyes. The frequency of examinations is recommended by the doctor based on the findings from the first examination. The timing of the next examination is decided according to the findings obtained during each examination.

How Is Hyperopia Treated?

The aim of treating hyperopia is to help light focus correctly on the retina. Hyperopic individuals may require the following for clear near vision:

• Glasses
• Contact lenses
• Refractive surgery (laser surgeries)

Prescription Lenses
In young individuals, treatment is not always necessary because the crystalline lenses inside the eyes are flexible enough to compensate. Depending on the degree of hyperopia, you may need prescription lenses to improve your near vision. This becomes more relevant as you age and the lenses in your eyes become less flexible.

Using prescription lenses corrects your vision by adjusting the decreasing curvature of your cornea. The types of prescription lenses include glasses and contact lenses. Glasses are an easy and reliable way to sharpen vision affected by hyperopia. Contact lenses fit directly onto your eye and come in various materials and designs, including spherical, multifocal, and monovision designs, as well as soft or rigid, gas-permeable options.

Refractive Surgery
This procedure can be applied to hyperopia to a certain degree when the corneal structures are suitable, similar to treatments for myopia and astigmatism. In this surgical treatment, the curvature of the cornea is reshaped, correcting hyperopia.

The methods of refractive surgery are as follows:

• Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK): In this procedure, the eye surgeon creates a thin, hinged flap on the cornea. A laser is then used to adjust the corneal curvatures, correcting hyperopia. The recovery process after LASIK surgery is generally faster, and discomfort is less compared to other corneal surgeries.
• Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK): The surgeon modifies the epithelial layer, which is the outer protective layer of the cornea. A laser is used to reshape the outer layers of the cornea and change its curvature.
• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK): The only difference from the LASEK procedure is that the surgeon completely removes the epithelial layer. They then use a laser to reshape the cornea. The epithelium is not replaced but naturally regenerates to fit the new shape of your cornea.

There is also the SMILE method, but this technique is not yet applicable for hyperopia.

What Symptoms Arise from Hyperopia?

Individuals with hyperopia, especially at a young age, do not generally have poor distance vision. However, when working up close, they may experience headaches, fatigue, concentration difficulties, focus problems, quick fatigue while reading, excessive tiredness after doing near-vision tasks, eye misalignment in children, and amblyopia (lazy eye)

How to Prevent Hyperopia?

Hyperopia is not something you can prevent, but there are measures you can take to protect your eyes. You should have regular eye examinations to address issues early on.

• If you have chronic diseases that could affect your vision, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, make sure to see your doctor regularly.
• If you have eye problems (such as glaucoma), follow your doctor's treatment plan and instructions.
• If you notice changes in your vision or experience pain and discharge from your eyes, or if your eyes are red, consult your doctor.
• Pay attention to good lighting. Use light appropriately for better vision. Prevent eye strain by ensuring good lighting in your home or office and maintain your near vision. Take short breaks throughout the day to rest your eyes. Remember to practice the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Resting is particularly important after long periods of reading or looking at a computer.
• Immediately inform your eye doctor if you notice sudden changes in vision, flashing lights, or vision loss.
• Don’t forget to protect your eyes from the sun. Use sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
• Take precautions against eye injuries. Always wear protective eyewear while playing sports, mowing the lawn, painting, or being exposed to toxic fumes.
• Consume healthy foods. Try to eat plenty of leafy green vegetables and other vegetables and fruits. Research indicates that including omega-3 fatty fish like tuna and salmon in your diet can greatly benefit your eye health.
• Do not smoke. Smoking is not only harmful to the rest of your body but also poses a threat to your eye health.
• Whether or not you experience eye pain, if you suddenly have trouble seeing, blurry vision, double vision, or see spots, consult your doctor and get an eye examination. Do not neglect your eye health.