Hyperopia

Hyperopia, commonly known as farsightedness, is an eye disorder in which you can see distant objects clearly but cannot focus on the objects close by, making them appear blurry.

In hyperopic eyes, the curvature of the cornea, which is the clear front part of the eye, and the curvature of the lens, which change shape to help the eyes focus, is not perfectly smooth. As a result, light is not focused perfectly on the retina and the light rays focus behind the retina. This makes hyperopia a refractive error, which means it’s a problem with the focusing ability of the eye and not a disease per se.

Hyperopia is a genetic disorder, with many children born with it. As they grow older, however, the eyeball lengthens, and the farsightedness improves.

When to seek expert advice

If you have been facing these symptoms for a few weeks, consult an eye specialist at the Department of Ophthalmology. In extreme cases, far sightedness can affect your ability to complete tasks and significantly affects your quality of life. It can also be a safety hazard, especially if you have hyperopia and you drive without prescription glasses.

Vision problems may be difficult to identify, especially in the initial stages. As a general rule, you must get a basic eye exam done at around 40 years of age. Follow-up exams should be conducted every two to four years, with the frequency of having your eye sight checked increasing as you age.