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Farsightedness

 

Question: What is farsightedness and how does it affect the lifestyle of the patient?

 

Answer: Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a vision condition whereby the patient can focus clearly on distant objects, but close objects are not brought into proper focus. This condition occurs when the length of the eyeball is too short or the cornea has too little curvature. This causes the light that enters the eyeball to have refractive error, which inhibits the near images to focus properly on the back of the eyeball (retina). This is a very common condition with many people having some degree of farsightedness.

Some of the common signs or symptoms to watch for are blurred near vision, difficulty in concentrating and maintaining clear focus on near objects, eye strain, eye fatigue, eye aching or burning, headaches after close work, poor reading ability and general tension.

 

Farsightedness can be effectively diagnosed during a comprehensive optometric eye health examination done by your Optometrist. Common vision screening methods are generally ineffective in detecting farsighted people. This is because farsighted individuals can usually identify the letters on an eye chart with little difficulty.

 

The treatment of farsightedness takes place after a comprehensive eye health examination done by an Optometrist. Your Optometrist may recommend glasses or contact lenses in order to correct the refractive error in a patient’s near vision. Laser surgery can also correct this condition and could be considered if the patient is interested in this treatment method and the Optometrist deems the patient an appropriate candidate for laser surgery.

If glasses or contact lenses are prescribed, it may take a few days to adjust to them. After that, farsightedness will probably not significantly affect the patient’s lifestyle.

 

The Canadian Association of Optometry recommends that all children have their eyes examined before the age of three years. Children three years old to eighteen years old should see their Optometrist a minimum of once per year. Individuals over eighteen years of age should visit their Optometrist a minimum of once every two years or sooner if recommended by their Optometrist.

The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends the following comprehensive eye health examination guidelines:

• Birth to 5 years: Immediately, if parents sense a problem, otherwise by age 3 and again prior to entering school.
• School age children 6-19 years: Annually or every 2 years.
• Over 19 years of age: Every 2 years or sooner if recommended by your Optometrist.

 

* All content is provided for education and information, and is no substitute for the advice of your optometrist. This information is provided courtesy of the British Columbia Association of Optometrists (B.C.A.O.). The B.C.A.O. assumes no responsibility or liability arising from any errors or omissions or from the use of any information contained herein.