Longsightedness
(hyperopia)
What
is hyperopia?
Hyperopia,
also known as long-sightedness or far-sightedness, is the
condition in which close objects appear blurry. A longsighted
person may have good distance vision but will have trouble
with close objects.
What
problems might a person with longsightedeness experience?
The
signs and symptoms of longsightedness can vary greatly between
individuals, and often occur when a person is involved in
a lot of close work (eg computers, reading, studying, etc.),
or immediately after undertaking a lot of near work.
Low
levels: generally the early signs and symptoms of long-sightedness
are vague and occasional, and may involve any of
- Headache
- Eye
strain
- Occasional
difficulty reading
- Fatigue
- Dislike
or avoidance of reading
- Dislike
or avoidance of computer work
- Difficulty
changing focus from near to far
- Watery,
uncomfortable eyes
- Excessive
blinking
- Squinting
to read
Medium
Levels: most of the signs and symptoms here are more
pronounced, and tend to be constantly present:
- Headache
- Inability
to read small print
- Inability
to work on a computer
Higher
Levels: constantly present
- Reading
becomes impossible
- Distance
vision may become blurred (even though this is a contradiction
with the definition of longsightedness!).
  
An
example of normal vision v longsightedness
Who
develops long sightedness?
Anyone
can develop long sightedness at any age. Long sightedness
can remain dormant for years, causing problems only when a
person engages in a considerable amount of near work or changes
occupation to one which involves more reading. Longsighted
people generally become a little more longsighted as they
grow older.
What
causes long sightedness?
No-one
is sure, however there is believed to be a hereditary component.
With
hyperopia, light entering the eye focuses in behind the retina.
This occurs because either the eye is too short (in length),
or the focusing components of the eye are too weak.
 
A diagram of a normal eye v a longsighted eye.
As
you can see, in the diagram of the normal eye, light enters
the eye, and focusses perfectly onto the back of the eye (the
retina). With a longsighted eye, the light focusses in beyond
the retina, and causes the image that forms on the retina
to be blurred. This causes near vision to become blurred.
Can
longsightedness be cured?
No.
Because long sightedness is a developmental problem with an
hereditary basis, there doesn't appear to be a much likelihood
of a cure.
What
should I do if I think I might be long sighted?
You
should arrange for an eye examination with your local Optometrist.
Eye examinations in Australia are supported by the Medicare
system for all Australian residents. Referrals are not required
for an eye examination with an Optometrist. Your Optometrist
will advise you if you have developed hyperopia, and will
be able to recommend the best form of treatment if it is required.
What
options do I have if I am long sighted?
The
safest and easiest options for a long sighted person are to
have glasses or contact lenses.
Laser surgery has also been
tried for long sightedness, however, the results have been
only moderately successful.
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