Long-sightedness (hyperopia) is a refractive error affecting how clearly a person sees objects at a close range. It is characterized by the eye’s inability to properly focus light onto the retina, resulting in blurred vision for up-close tasks.
What Hyperopia Means
Hyperopia means that while distant objects may be seen with relative clarity, items held closer, such as a book or a phone, appear blurry. The severity of the condition dictates the degree of blurriness; in cases of high hyperopia, vision may be compromised at all distances.
The constant struggle to achieve clear focus forces the eye muscles to work harder than normal. This often leads to eye strain, a feeling of aching or burning, and general fatigue, particularly after sustained visual concentration. Difficulty reading fine print and headaches after extended close-up work, like computer use, are common indicators.
How the Eye Focuses Light Incorrectly
The problem in hyperopia is that the eye does not refract incoming light correctly, causing the light rays to converge at a point behind the retina. In a normally functioning eye, the cornea and the lens ensure the focal point lands precisely on the retina, which transmits the visual information to the brain.
The focusing defect stems from one of two anatomical issues. The first is an eyeball that is physically too short along its front-to-back axis, meaning the retina is positioned too close to the front of the eye. Even with normal focusing power, the light reaches the back of the eye before it can fully converge to a sharp point.
The second cause is a refractive issue where the cornea or the lens lacks sufficient curvature, meaning they are too flat. This insufficient curvature results in weak focusing power, causing the light to be under-focused when it reaches the retina. Whether due to a short eyeball or a flat focusing system, the result is the same: the image projected onto the retina is unfocused, leading to blurriness.
Options for Correcting Vision
Correcting hyperopia involves introducing additional focusing power to shift the focal point forward onto the retina. The most common solution is prescription eyewear, specifically glasses or contact lenses that utilize convex or “plus-powered” lenses.
These convex lenses are thicker in the center and thinner at the edges, increasing the overall refractive power of the eye’s optical system. By pre-converging the light rays before they enter the eye, the corrective lenses ensure the light converges precisely on the retina, resulting in a clear image.
For individuals seeking permanent correction, refractive surgery procedures like Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) or Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) are options. These surgeries use a precise laser to reshape the cornea, making its central area steeper. This steepening increases the cornea’s natural focusing strength, compensating for the eye’s deficiency and allowing light to focus correctly on the retina.