Hyperopia

Farsightedness, near objects strain or blur

Overview

Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a refractive error in which light focuses behind the retina because the eye is relatively short or the cornea relatively flat. Young people can often compensate by accommodating, using the ciliary muscle to increase the focusing power of the lens, so mild hyperopia may produce no blur but can cause eye strain, fatigue, and headaches with close work. In children, significant uncorrected hyperopia is associated with accommodative esotropia, an inward turn of the eyes, and with amblyopia. Because accommodative capacity declines with age, hyperopic adults typically notice blur at near first and later at distance as well. Hyperopia is distinct from presbyopia, although both affect near vision. It is corrected with convex, plus powered lenses in glasses or contact lenses, and refractive surgery or lens implants are options for some adults.