Hyperopia: Understanding and Correcting Farsightedness

Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is a common vision condition in which objects up close are difficult to see, while distant objects remain clear. Hyperopia can affect people of all ages, including children, and it often goes unnoticed until vision problems become more pronounced. Understanding what hyperopia is and the available treatment options is key to managing this condition effectively.¹

What Is Hyperopia?

Farsightedness is a common refractive condition in children and adults, in which light entering the eye doesn’t bend correctly and instead focuses behind the retina instead of on it, causing blurred vision up close.²

Hyperopia can be caused by several physical factors, such as an eyeball that is too short from front to back.² A cornea that is too flat or not curved enough, or a lens that sits farther back in the eye than normal, can also contribute to farsightedness.³

Causes

Hyperopia is often hereditary — most people are born with it.² In children, the condition may resolve itself as the eyes continue to develop until around 9 years of age.³ For many, hyperopia may not cause vision problems until later in life.²

Lifestyle factors, such as extensive reading and digital screen time, have been linked to the development of hyperopia.⁴ Some disorders, such as retinopathy and eye tumors, may also lead to hyperopia.³ Conditions such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes can cause hyperopia as well.⁴

Symptoms

Common symptoms of farsightedness include:³

• Blurred vision, especially at night
• Difficulty seeing objects or reading up close
• Headaches, especially while reading²
• Tired, aching eyes or eye strain

Adults with mild farsightedness may not experience any symptoms.² But children may complain of headaches, rub their eyes often or have trouble or show little interest in reading.³

Children with hyperopia may also have a greater predisposition to other eye problems, including strabismus (crossed eyes) or amblyopia (lazy eye).²

Hyperopia vs. presbyopia

It’s worth noting that hyperopia and presbyopia share similar symptoms in that they both affect your ability to see at close distances. However, hyperopia is caused by a refractive error and can occur at any age, while presbyopia is an age-related condition caused by the natural aging of the crystalline lens.⁵

Sometimes referred to as tired eyes, presbyopia occurs when the lens loses elasticity over time and becomes less flexible at changing shape to focus. Adults around the ages of 40 to 45 commonly experience the onset of presbyopia, most noticeably when trying to read small print close up such as a menu, computer screen or smartphone. Almost all adults of advanced age will experience some form of “tired eyes” at some point.⁵

Diagnosing Hyperopia

An ophthalmologist or optometrist can determine farsightedness through a comprehensive eye exam, including a visual acuity test, to measure your vision at distances. They may use other tests, such as a slit-lamp test to examine the physical structure of your eyes or dilation to examine the inside of your eyes.⁶

Treatments for Hyperopia

Several effective treatment options are available to correct hyperopia, ranging from non-invasive methods like glasses and contact lenses to surgical procedures for long-term correction. Consult with your eye doctor to determine the best treatment options for you.

Corrective eyewear

Prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses are the most common ways to accommodate farsightedness since they don't require surgery.⁷ Prescriptions can be adjusted as needed and glasses or contacts can be easily removed or replaced.

Many people get fitted for both eyeglasses and contacts to give themselves a wider range of options depending on their activity level, lifestyle and personal preferences. Your eye doctor will determine the right prescription, type of lens and fit for both eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Refractive surgery

Refractive surgery may be an option for those seeking a more permanent solution for hyperopia. These surgical procedures reshape the cornea, allowing light to focus correctly on the retina.⁸

• Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). LASIK uses a laser to reshape the cornea, allowing for better light refraction, and is effective for patients with mild to moderate hyperopia. About 90% of patients experience an immediate improvement in their vision, often 20/20 or 20/40 without glasses or contacts, although individual results may vary. LASIK is not suitable for everyone, including people with thin corneas, severe dry eye, advanced glaucoma or other eye diseases, as well as those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.⁹
• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). PRK is similar to LASIK, but this procedure removes the outer layer of the cornea before reshaping. PRK may be a good choice for individuals with thinner corneas or dry eyes who are not good candidates for LASIK. You may experience blurred vision and mild eye pain as the cornea heals the first three to five days after surgery. It can take up to one month after surgery to achieve your optimal vision. Nine out of 10 patients who get PRK experience 20/40 vision or better without glasses or contacts.¹⁰
• Implantable collamer lens (ICL) surgery. Unlike LASIK and PRK, which reshape the cornea, ICL implants a synthetic lens alongside the eye’s natural lens. The lenses work together to improve vision. Good candidates for ICL are people who have a high glasses or contact lens prescription and are between the ages of 21 and 45. ICL is often a good option for people with thin corneas or dry eyes who are not good candidates for LASIK or PRK. Recovery time for ICL is approximately one week. Most patients (96.7%) could see 20/40 or better the first year after ICL, and 94.7% could see 20/40 or better after three years without glasses or contacts.¹¹

How Much Does It Cost to Treat Hyperopia?

The national average cost* to treat hyperopia can vary widely between $72 and $9,405, depending on the type of treatment.¹²

Below is a breakdown of the average costs* and cost ranges of different hyperopia treatments and procedures.¹²

Average cost of eyeglasses and contact lenses by state/district

Below is a breakdown of the average cost* of eyeglass frames, eyeglass lenses and contact lenses by all 50 states and the District of Columbia.¹²

Related Tags

Vision

Want to share this on social media?