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Hyperopia

FarsightednessHyperopia is the medical term for farsightedness – a refractive disorder that causes objects up close to be blurry and distant objects to be more clear. Many people have some small degree of hyperopia, but it is usually not significant enough to interfere with normal vision. In fact, you may not even realize you have hyperopia until you reach your late 30s, at which point you may discover you need reading glasses before your peers.

Hyperopia does not prevent people from clearly identifying letters on an eye chart, which means it often goes undiagnosed. In order to accurately identify hyperopia, you must undergo a comprehensive eye examination. Call us today at (972) 736-9347 to schedule an eye exam with Dr. Brooks.

What Causes Hyperopia?

Hyperopia is caused by the shape of your eye. If the cornea is too flat, or the eye is too short, the light will converge at a point located behind your retina, instead of directly on the retina.

If you have hyperopia, you may notice the following problems on a regular basis:

  • Focusing on close objects requires extra effort, leading to eye fatigue.
  • Headaches are common after reading or computer work.
  • You need to hold objects farther away in order to see them clearly.

When you are young, your eyes can usually adjust to compensate for mild hyperopia. However, as you grow older, you may need glasses or contact lenses to relieve the amount of stress on your eyes.

Hyperopia Treatment

Most people with hyperopia only need glasses for reading and computer work; however, if your farsightedness is bad enough, laser eye surgery can be a wonderful solution. LASIK and PRK treat hyperopia by re-shaping the surface of your cornea, helping your eyes focus light directly on the retina for the clearest possible vision.

If you have further questions about hyperopia, please contact Brooks Eye Associates today or call (972) 736-9347 to schedule an appointment. We serve patients in North Texas, including Plano, Frisco, and Dallas.