Hyperopia




“Far-sighted”

When the focusing system (cornea and lens) places an image into focus behind the retina, but not on the retina, this is called hyperopia. One could say that the image ended up “far” to the retina, having overshot the place it should have been; the eye is thus “far-sighted.” Most children are slightly hyperopic by nature – to put images into focus the natural lens “pulls” the image forwards, towards the retina- this process is called “accommodation.” However, when there is too much hyperopia for the natural lens to accommodate, the image is blurred unless an outside lens is used to put it into focus (glasses, contact lens, LASIK).

Hyperopic people cannot properly focus on objects that are close up OR far away.

(Don’t get caught up in “far sighted means…” and “near sighted means…” – these terms are misleading.) Looking at objects up close requires more accommodation by the natural lens than looking at distant objects.

Hyperopic people need glasses (or contact lenses) in order to see distant and near objects

Hyperopia does tend to diminish over time – while it actually increases between birth and 7 years (or so) it then starts to decrease. Fortunately, the vast majority of hyperopic people retain the ability to see perfectly well, with correction, if their hyperopia is detected and corrected early enough in life.

Answers to common myths about hyperopia

If my child uses her glasses all the time, she become dependent on them

Sure, just as you are dependent on listening to conversation at a volume greater than a whisper. While you could listen to people whispering all day long, wouldn’t this be hard to do? Isn’t it wonderful that people speak up so they can be heard? People with hyperopia may be able to “get by” without their glasses, but it’s not easy – people with hyperopia appreciate how much better they can see once they get used to their glasses.

Using glasses will weaken the eyes

Nonsense! The eyes will not “wear out” from using glasses anymore than the sense of hearing “wears out” from listening to things at a normal volume all day. Imagine if your parents had told everybody around you only to whisper so that your hearing wouldn’t “get weak.” Bet you wouldn’t have liked that! Why would you deprive your child of the ability to see clearly? Does the sense of smell, touch, or taste wear out from being used constantly? Why would the eyes? Sometimes, not wearing hyperopic glasses can lead to vision loss (amblyopia).

If my child needs glasses, does this mean that he has “weak eyes?”

So long as the vision can be corrected to the normal range with glasses, then the eyes are not “weak.” When the structures of the eye are healthy and all that is needed is some help with putting things into focus, the eyes are considered healthy. Unfortunately, there are certain eye diseases where the vision can not be improved to normal with glasses (or contact lenses).

The glasses should be worn only to see the board

Without question, children with hyperopia who need glasses to see things clearly should wear their glasses in order to see the board at school – it would be a shame for your child to do poorly in school because she couldn’t see the lessons and assignments. However, if your child needs glasses to see well, why wouldn’t you want her to see well all of the time?

If my eyes are fine, then how did this happen?

Hyperopia is not anybody’s “fault.” But, if it makes you feel better, then you can always blame the other parent and their family (just kidding). Seriously, while there is some familial tendency for hyperopia, the genetics are not very clear-cut and hyperopia “just happens.”

My child should have her eyes examined every few months now

People with hyperopia should have a thorough eye exam once a year (or so) in order to make any adjustments in the glasses. If your child reports blurry vision before one year, however, then it may be necessary to make an adjustment in their prescription sooner. Sometimes hyperopia diminishes less over time – sometimes, children can “outgrow” the need for glasses. It is not possible to accurately predict who will “outgrow” their glasses.

   
Fresh Meadows (718) 468-9800 Woodside