Hyperopia: Discussing Symptoms And Treatment

What Is Hyperopia?

Popularly known as long-sightedness, hyperopia is a vision problem in which nearby objects look blurred, while the distant objects are more clearly visible.

This occurs because the light entering the eye is focused behind the retina, rather than directly on it.

When the cornea in the eye becomes too flat, this can cause light rays to focus behind the retina rather than directly on it. This is essentially what causes hyperopia, as your vision can become blurry when the eye tries to focus on objects nearby, due to the cornea being unable to focus light rays properly.

Symptoms Of Hyperopia

The symptoms of hyperopia vary from person to person. On an individual basis, the extent to which someone is affected by hyperopia is usually determined after tests at an eye care facility.

Some common symptoms of Hyperopia include:

1. Blurry vision, especially for close objects.
2. Difficulty or discomfort with close tasks like reading, writing, and working on a computer.
3. Aching or burning eyes.
4. Headaches.
5. Eye strain.
6. Squinting.
7. Fatigue.

Causes Of Hyperopia

Hyperopia is typically caused by an irregularly shaped cornea, preventing light from bending properly into the retina.

Other traceable causes of this condition include:

1. Pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes).
2. Smaller eyeballs.
3. Flat cornea.
4. Stiff lenses.
5. Age.
6. Genetic factors.

Long-term Complications Arising From Hyperopia

If left untreated, hyperopia may cause other vision problems. Some of these include:

1. Amblyopia: Sometimes called “Lazy Eyes”, Amblyopia is a developmental disorder that leads to reduced vision. It usually affects only one eye and occurs because the eye and the brain are not working together properly. The affected eye looks normal, but sends weak ‘neuro electrical signals’ to the brain. This causes the brain to favour the other eye.
2. Strabismus: Also known as Eye Squint, this is a condition where the eyes point in different directions and ‘see’ different images. This confuses the brain and causes blurred or double vision. It is not always possible to tell if the eyes are pointing in different directions by simply looking at someone, so regular eye tests are vital to ensure diagnosis and effective treatment to prevent avoidable sight loss. 
3. Retinal detachment: This is another potential complication of high hyperopia. In this condition, the retina detaches from the back of the eye, causing a sudden loss of vision. 
4. Glaucoma: Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, typically due to increased pressure within the eye. This damage can lead to irreversible vision loss and, if left untreated, may result in blindness.

Diagnosis And Treatment

Hyperopia can be detected through a comprehensive eye test. We recommend you have one frequently to check the health of your eyes, as well as how well you can see. During this test, an eye care professional will perform various tests to assess your vision and determine if you have any refractive errors.

A visual acuity test is typically performed to measure how well you can see at different distances. This test involves reading letters or numbers from a chart placed at a specific distance from you.

Hyperopia can be treated via the following methods:

1. Glasses: Hyperopia can usually be corrected easily by wearing prescription glasses. These help your eyes focus correctly so you can see nearby objects clearly.
2. Contact Lenses: Hyperopia can also be corrected by wearing contact lenses, which may be a better option if glasses would get in the way of your lifestyle. People with hyperopia usually wear contact lenses which are 'plus' or convex in shape to achieve normal vision.
3. Corrective Surgery: Procedures like laser eye surgery, refractive lens exchange (RLE) and implantable collamer lens (ICL) have been established as effective ways of correcting hyperopia.

How Optimax Seamlessly Handles Hyperopia

At Optimax, we embrace innovation and invest in state-of-the-art equipment and procedures to offer the most effective eye treatments. With our team of experienced and skilled professionals, we are the ones you should trust when it comes to achieving optimal eye health and visual satisfaction.

We correct hyperopia easily, safely and accurately with any of the following procedures:

1. Laser Eye Surgery: Depending on the laser eye treatment deemed suitable, a thin layer is gently lifted away from the surface of the eye so the laser can access the layer below and correct the prescription with pinpoint accuracy. We offer two types of laser eye surgery, LASIK and LASEK. The same lasers are used for each procedure and both produce outstanding results.
2. RLE Surgery: In RLE, the eye's natural lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to improve vision. This allows for clear vision at multiple distances, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses. RLE also eliminates the need for cataract surgery in later life.
3. ICL Surgery: This involves implanting a thin, biocompatible lens inside the eye to correct refractive errors. It is often considered for individuals with a higher than average prescription, or eye surface characteristics (like thinner corneas) that makes them ineligible for laser eye correction. Unlike other types of eye surgery like LASIK or PRK, ICL surgery doesn't require the removal of corneal tissue.

Our optometrists and eye surgeons will recommend the best treatment option for you. They will consider your lifestyle and prescription to recommend which of these procedures will be best suited for you.

If you have any questions regarding hyperopia, corrective surgery, or eye care in general, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are more than happy to discuss queries with you over the phone (0800 093 1110) or email (enquiry@optimax.co.uk).