Hyperopia

Longsighted vision

A longsighted, or hyper-metropic eye is shorter than normal. Light rays focus behind the retina, and close objects look blurred.

Hyperopic people cannot see distant objects any clearer than people with normal vision.

Indeed, a perfect state of focusing on the retina is unusual, with most people actually being a little hyperopic. A little hyperopia is not a problem because the lens of the eye easily adjusts through altering the focus.

However, the greater the hyperopia the harder it is to focus. Close vision may become blurry because the closer the object the more focussing is required. People with hyperopia may suffer from headaches or tired eyes after a lot of close work - even if their vision remains clear. This is often evident in adolescents as the amount of schoolwork, reading and homework increases.

Whether or not glasses are required depends on the symptoms that the person experiences. Younger people with slight hyperopia generally have few problems or may be prescribed glasses for reading or for using the computer. People with more severe hyperopia, or older people in which focussing is more difficult, usually need glasses for close work - and occasionally distance vision as well.