Hypermetropia

Causes

Hypermetropia is related to common variations in the eye’s formation. These are often genetic or hereditary conditions.

Shortened eyeball: If the length or depth of the eye from the cornea to the retina is too short, the light doesn’t focus on the right part of the retina.

Flattened cornea: The precise curvature of the cornea allows light to pass through at the position and angle required by the retina. Light will hit the retina differently if the cornea is flattened or weakened.

Symptoms

Individuals with hypermetropia may experience:

• Blurred vision when focusing on nearby items, such as printed words or detailed images
• Eye strain, fatigue and headaches after prolonged close-up work
• Squinting to see better
• Holding things farther away from your face to see them
• Difficulty with tasks like reading, handicrafts or seeing content on digital devices
• A lazy or wandering eye amblyopia
• Seeing better out of one eye at a time
• Misalignment of the eyes strabismus

Many people are born with the condition but grow out of it in their childhood. In other cases, symptoms may appear in adulthood. Either way, it’s important to monitor the condition to make sure it doesn’t lead to any complications.

Diagnosis

Your optometrist can perform several tests to determine the presence and extent of hypermetropia you may be experiencing.

• Visual acuity test: This is the most basic assessment to measure visual clarity with an eye chart.
• Refraction assessment: This is similar to an eye chart assessment, but you will look through a device called a refractor with different types of lenses to help determine your vision prescription.
• Ophthalmoscopy: Ophthalmoscopy, or funduscopy, uses light and magnification to examine the back of the eye.
• Retinoscopy: The eye doctor uses an instrument to shine light through the pupil and observe how the light is refracted at the retina.

Treatment Options

There are several treatment options available to help correct hypermetropia. Your eye doctor can discuss the best choices for your unique situation.

• Eyeglasses: Wearing eyeglasses is the easiest, most cost-effective and most common method of correcting farsightedness.
• Contact lenses: Contact lenses are an option for those who do not wish to wear glasses.
• Refractive surgery: Laser refractive surgery (LASIK) can correct farsightedness in adults whose normal prescription is stable.
• Lens implant: If you’re not a candidate for LASIK, you may qualify for surgical intraocular lens implants. This may also be an option for those who also need cataract surgery or have coexisting astigmatism.
• Vision therapy and eye exercises: Vision therapy can help retrain a child’s eyes when hypermetropia causes additional concerns, such as a lazy eye. Older adults may also use eye exercises to help keep their eyes from growing weaker with age. These treatments do not reverse or correct your vision, but they can help stabilize and strengthen it.

If you’re experiencing any changes or problems with your vision, schedule an eye exam with Visionworks today.