Hyperopia (Farsightedness): Definition, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Published on July 19th, 2023

Updated on November 5th, 2024

Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness or longsightedness, is defined as a refractive error in which light that enters the eye is focused behind the retina as opposed to on the retina as normal, leading to issues with near vision. The causes of hyperopia are related to the structure of the eye and include a flat cornea and the eyeball being too short from the retina to the cornea. Symptoms that may indicate a person is farsighted include trouble with near vision, headaches, squinting and eye strain. Hyperopia is most commonly diagnosed by an optometrist or other eye care professional during a standard eye test. The eye tests that an optometrist may use to diagnose hyperopia or farsightedness include a slit lamp test, a refraction test and a visual acuity test. The most common treatment for hyperopia is glasses to correct the way light refracts onto the retina. Laser eye surgery is also available as a treatment option for those who have farsighted vision.

What is Hyperopia (Farsightedness)?

Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is a refractive error in which light entering the eye does not refract properly, leading to issues seeing objects at a close distance. When light enters the eye, it is refracted towards the retina. If someone has hyperopia, the light entering the eye refracts behind the retina, not on the retina as normal, leading to blurry near vision. There are different degrees of hyperopia, depending on the refractive error. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. High hyperopia is considered +5.25D or more, low hyperopia can be classified as +2.00D or less, and moderate from +2.23 to 5.00D. In summary, the answer to what is farsightedness is a refractive error in which light hits behind the retina, not on the retina. To be farsighted means that you have issues seeing objects up close clearly.

How Does Hyperopia (Farsightedness) Work?

Hyperopia or farsightedness is a refractive error, meaning that it works or is concerned with how light enters the eye and what part of the eye it hits. A person with normal vision will have light enter through the cornea and hit the retina. A person with hyperopia will have light enter the eye and hit a point behind the retina, leading to close-up vision blurring.

How do Hyperopia (Farsightedness) and Presbyopia differ?

Hyperopia and presbyopia may seem similar in that both conditions make it hard to see objects up close clearly, however, they differ in their cause of this blurry near vision. Presbyopia is an age-related eye condition in which the lens of the eye hardens as a person ages and becomes less flexible, leading to light not focusing properly on the retina, according to the National Eye Institute. Hyperopia or farsightedness is an eye condition that results from issues with the eye that cause light to refract incorrectly and can occur at any age. Issues with the eye that may cause hyperopia include an eyeball that has grown too short, or there’s an issue with the cornea, according to the National Eye Institute.

What are the Parts of the Eye that Hyperopia (Farsightedness) Affects?

Hyperopia is concerned with the parts of the eye that affect how light is refracted. The parts of the eye that help refract light can include the retina, the axial length of the eye, meaning the distance from the retina to the cornea, as well as the cornea itself. If the eyeball is too short, then the light can land behind the retina causing hyperopia. If the cornea is too flat, then the light entering the eye will land behind the retina, leading to hyperopia.

An image showing an eye with hyperopia and the parts that it affects, compared to an eye without hyperopia.

What Causes Hyperopia (Farsightedness)?

The cause of hyperopia or farsightedness is generally related to the shape and size of the eye and its structures. Hyperopia can be caused by a shortness in the length of the eyeball from front to back, according to the Cleveland Clinic. If the eyeball is too short then the distance between the retina and the cornea is too short, and light can land behind the retina as opposed to on it, leading to hyperopia. Hyperopia can also be caused by issues with the cornea and its curvature. If the cornea is too flat then the light will not refract properly and will end up behind the cornea. In summary, the answer to what causes farsightedness is an issue with the shape of the cornea, the lens or the eyeball.

What is the Chance of Hyperopia Developing During Childhood?

The chance of hyperopia or farsightedness developing during childhood is moderate, with some children developing the condition in early childhood, whilst some others can be born with it. Hyperopia can begin to develop during childhood, according to the Optometrists Network. According to a paper by Castagno, Fassa, Carret, et al. called Hyperopia: a meta-analysis of prevalence and a review of associated factors among school-aged children, an international study, concluded that hyperopia occurred in children at varying prevalence depending on age. Hyperopia was prevalent in children from 9 to 14 at 2-3%, whereas hyperopia was prevalent in those aged 15 at a rate of 1%. Children may be born with hyperopia that corrects itself over time, other children may need help with vision assistance. It is important to get your children’s eyes tested if they are showing symptoms of hyperopia such as blurry near vision, squinting or headaches after reading or doing other close work.

How Common is Farsightedness in Adults?

Hyperopia or farsightedness is one of the most common eye conditions among both adults and children, with a 2017-2018 Australian survey indicating that 7.2 million people had hyperopia.

Does Hyperopia Get Worse with Age?

Hyperopia does not necessarily get worse with age. Hyperopia is not an age-related condition, people of all ages can develop hyperopia. Generally, if a person starts having blurry near vision after the age of 40, this tends to be a separate condition called presbyopia. In the paper Hyperopia: a meta-analysis of prevalence and a review of associated factors among school-aged children by Castagno, Fassa, Carret, et al., the prevalence of hyperopia in children decreased with age.

Is Hyperopia (Farsightedness) Genetic?

Hyperopia can be genetic or inherited, passed down from immediate relatives, but this is not always the case. According to the National Library of Medicine and Medline Plus, there is not a clear pattern as to how hyperopia is passed down, however, those that have a first-degree relative, like a mother or father that have hyperopia, tend to be at more risk of developing the condition.

What Age Does Hyperopia Stop?

Hyperopia or nearsightedness is not generally an eye condition that will stop or be cured at adult age unless there is surgical intervention. Hyperopia is a refractive error, meaning light does not hit the retina, instead light lands behind the retina. The way that hyperopia is most commonly treated is for a person to be given corrective lenses which help the light hit the right spot in the retina. However, for some children born with hyperopia or those who develop the eye condition at a young age, the eye may correct hyperopia naturally as it grows.

What are the Symptoms of Farsightedness?

There are several possible symptoms of farsightedness or hyperopia, including trouble with close-up vision, eye strain, squinting and headaches. The exact symptoms of hyperopia may depend on the level of hyperopia a person has, with some people experiencing no vision issues or symptoms. It is important to see your optometrist for an eye test if you have any symptoms of hyperopia. The possible symptoms of farsightedness or hyperopia are listed below.

Trouble with close-up vision: Trouble with close-up vision is a common symptom of hyperopia, often referring to blurry near vision.
Eye strain: Eye strain may be a symptom of hyperopia and occurs when the eyes try to focus on close-up objects.
Squinting: Squinting may be a symptom of hyperopia, referring to the eyes partially closing to better see objects close by.
Headaches: Headaches may be a symptom of hyperopia, occurring when the eyes overwork or strain to see objects up close.

1. Trouble with Close-Up Vision

Trouble with close-up vision is a common symptom of hyperopia or farsightedness and often refers to near vision being blurry. Hyperopia is a refractive error in which light entering the eye is refracted incorrectly, and lands behind the retina, instead of on the retina, which can lead to a person’s near vision being blurry. Near vision refers to seeing objects that are close to you. A person may notice issues with their near vision when doing close-up work such as reading and writing. If you notice your vision has started to gradually blur, it is important to see an optometrist for an eye test so they can help to manage this symptom. If your vision has blurred suddenly, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

2. Eye Strain

Eye strain is a possible symptom of hyperopia. Eye strain caused by hyperopia may be due to the eyes straining to see objects at a near distance clearly. Eye strain may feel like your eyes are working hard to see something or keep something in focus. Eye strain may lead to dry eyes and watery eyes, eye redness and headaches. Eye strain may also lead to difficulty concentrating on close work.

3. Squinting

Squinting is a possible symptom of hyperopia. Squinting is defined as partly closing the eyes to see better. Those with hyperopia may be prone to squinting when looking at objects close by as hyperopia affects how clear a person’s near vision is.

4. Headaches

Headaches are a possible symptom of hyperopia which can be caused by the eye straining to see clearly after close work. Close work is defined as activities conducted in close proximity to the eyes such as reading and writing. If a person has hyperopia then their near vision may not be clear. If the eyes are straining to see objects up close, especially for extended periods of time, this may lead to headaches.

How is Hyperopia (Farsightedness) Diagnosed?

Hyperopia is generally diagnosed during an eye test with an optometrist or other eye care professional. To diagnose hyperopia or farsightedness, an optometrist will carry out a series of eye tests which may include a visual acuity test, a slit lamp test and a refraction test.

What are the Eye Exams Done to Diagnose Hyperopia?

The eye exams or eye tests that may be done to diagnose hyperopia or farsightedness include a visual acuity test, a slit lamp test and a refraction test. A visual acuity test is an eye test that determines how sharp and clear your vision is. A visual acuity test will involve a person looking at a chart that consists of lines of letters that descend in size. The person will read the letters until their eyes cannot see clearly. The line that a person stops at will give them a score that determines their visual acuity. A slit lamp test refers to an eye test conducted with a microscope that has a light. A slit lamp test will examine the structures of the eyes such as the cornea and the lens. A refraction test is an eye test that will determine what prescription a person needs. An optometrist will have their patient look through a series of different lenses with varying magnification strengths to determine what level of vision correction they need.

An image showing an eye test to diagnose hyperopia.

What Happens if Hyperopia is Left Untreated?

If left untreated, hyperopia can cause a number of symptoms that can affect a person’s quality of life. These symptoms include blurry near vision, eye strain, squinting and headaches. This can make close-up tasks such as reading and writing very difficult and can put significant strain and stress on the eyes as they are working overtime to focus. Hyperopia (farsightedness) can also lead to certain complications if it is not treated with corrective devices such as prescription glasses. Complications include amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes). Amblyopia can be caused by uncorrected hyperopia as the eyes can have a different level of refractive error in each eye. In the case of strabismus, untreated hyperopia can cause the eyes to work extra hard on focusing to see objects clearly, leading to crossed eyes.

Can Hyperopia Lead to Blindness?

It is very rare for hyperopia to lead to blindness, but if left untreated this refractive error can cause other complications. Complications of untreated hyperopia include amblyopia, colloquially known as lazy eye, which occurs when one eye has worse vision than the other resulting in eye misalignment and squinting. Another complication is strabismus, also known as crossed eyes, which is common in children and causes one eye to turn in a different direction than the other.

How is Hyperopia (Farsightedness) Treated?

Hyperopia (farsightedness) treatment involves correcting the refractive error that causes light to focus behind the retina instead of on the retina. The treatment for hyperopia includes corrective devices such as prescription glasses and contacts and laser eye surgery. Prescription glasses used to correct hyperopia will have plus-powered lenses, also known as convex lenses with a thick centre that helps light focus back onto the retina. Contact lenses can also be used to treat hyperopia and give the wearer clear and comfortable vision. Laser eye surgery can be used to correct a person’s vision by reshaping the structure of the eye. In the case of hyperopia, the laser is used to reshape the cornea specifically, which helps light that enters the eye to focus on the retina.

At Oscar Wylee, we have an optometrist in every store to provide prescriptions for optical glasses although we do not offer contact lenses nor provide laser eye surgery.

Do People with Hyperopia Need Progressive Glasses?

Yes, people with hyperopia can use progressive glasses to correct their farsightedness if they also need a corrective additional power or ADD for close work. Progressive lenses, also known as multifocal lenses, help the wearer see at three different distances, those being near, intermediate and far. These lenses are a great solution for people who don’t want to switch between multiple pairs of glasses. With multifocal (progressives), the lenses contain three different prescriptions which seamlessly transition from one to another, providing clear and comfortable vision. People with hyperopia can use other types of lenses such as single vision or bifocal, but for those with both near and farsightedness, progressive lenses may be a good choice.

Can Hyperopia Be Cured Without Surgery?

Generally, hyperopia can only be cured through surgery for adults. For children with hyperopia, the condition may improve as the eye grows. If laser eye surgery is not an option, hyperopia can be managed with corrective devices like prescription glasses and contact lenses. According to the Mayo Clinic, prescription glasses treat hyperopia by counteracting either the smaller length of the eye or the reduced curvature of the cornea. With the correct prescription lens, glasses can be used to correct hyperopia to give the wearer clear and comfortable vision, treating blurry vision and eye strain.

Does Hyperopia Go Away Naturally?

No, in most cases hyperopia will not go away naturally for adults. For some children hyperopia (farsightedness) may resolve as they age and the eye grows, according to KidsHealth. This does not always occur however, which is why it is important to have your child’s eyes tested regularly so an optometrist can assess their vision for any issues.

What is the Difference Between Hyperopia and Myopia?

Hyperopia (farsightedness) and myopia (nearsightedness) are different types of refractive errors that are essentially the opposite of each other. The main differences between hyperopia and myopia are how they affect vision, the eye shape that causes the condition and how light focuses on the eye. The differences between myopia and hyperopia and their definitions are listed below.

Vision: Hyperopia commonly causes near vision to be blurry while distant objects are clear. Myopia is the opposite meaning near objects appear clear but distant objects are blurry.
Eye shape: According to All About Vision, hyperopia, in most cases, can be caused by the eye being too short whereas an eyeball with myopia is typically too long. Hyperopia can also be caused if the cornea isn't curved enough, whereas myopia may occur if the cornea is too curved.
Light focusing: Due to the different shapes of the eyes for people with hyperopia and myopia, these refractive errors cause light to focus inside the eye differently. For hyperopia, the light hits behind the retina but for myopia, light focuses in front of the retina.

An image showing an eye with hyperopia compared to an eye with myopia.

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