Long sighted vision, or hyperopia, is a common refractive error where the eye does not bend light correctly to form a clear image. This condition typically causes objects close to the viewer to appear blurry or out of focus. People with mild hyperopia, especially when young, may still see distant objects clearly because the eye’s natural focusing mechanism can compensate for the error. The severity of the hyperopia and the individual’s age determine the degree of blurriness and the range of affected vision.
What Is Long Sighted Vision?
Long sightedness is an optical focusing disorder, not a disease, characterized by difficulty with near tasks such as reading or working on a computer screen. It is one of the most frequent vision problems worldwide. Symptoms vary greatly based on the severity of the refractive error and the eye’s ability to naturally adjust.
People with uncorrected hyperopia often report significant eye strain, especially after extended periods of close-up work. This constant effort to focus can lead to symptoms like headaches, a burning sensation in the eyes, or general eye fatigue. Young people with mild hyperopia may not notice blurry vision, but they experience these symptoms because their eyes constantly overcompensate to maintain a clear image. In higher degrees of hyperopia, the individual struggles to focus at all distances, and even distant objects can appear blurry.
The Optical Mechanism of Hyperopia
Hyperopia occurs because incoming light rays focus at a theoretical point behind the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. For clear vision, the cornea and the lens must precisely bend light so it converges directly onto the retina. In a hyperopic eye, the total focusing power is insufficient for the eye’s length.
This insufficient focusing power is typically due to one of two main anatomical factors. The most common cause is that the eyeball is slightly too short from the front to the back axis. The second factor is that the cornea, or the lens, or both, have too little curvature, making them too flat. These structural abnormalities prevent the light from converging soon enough to land on the retina, resulting in the blurred image.
Corrective Options for Long Sightedness
Correcting long sightedness involves adding the focusing power that the natural eye structure lacks to ensure light converges correctly on the retina. The most common solution is the use of prescription glasses or contact lenses featuring convex lenses. These lenses are thicker in the center, thinner at the edges, and are assigned a “plus-power” prescription.
The convex shape of the corrective lens works by pre-bending light rays inward before they enter the eye. This helps the light converge more quickly, shifting the focal point forward onto the retina. This external assistance relieves the eye’s internal focusing muscles from constant strain. For those seeking a more permanent solution, refractive surgery, such as LASIK, may be an option. This procedure uses a laser to reshape the cornea, increasing its curvature to enhance its natural focusing power.