Hyperopia or long sightedness is a condition in which the optical components of the eye are not strong enough, and so light is not focused onto the retina. This results in blurred vision that is usually worse at shorter distances.
The eye’s lens and cornea focus light into an image on the retina, just as a camera lens focuses light on to a film. In a resting hyperopic (longsighted) eye, the light is focused behind the retina and so the image is blurred.
A little hyperopia is not a problem because the lens compensates easily but if there is a significant amount of hyperopia, the effort of focusing (called accommodation) can lead to symptoms.
Hyperopic people may get tired eyes or headaches after a lot of visual work, even if their vision is clear. Reading is more difficult and school work can be affected. Because a hyperopic person often can see well in the distance, a letter chart test alone may miss hyperopia.
Your eyes are your window to the world, and the Masons Eyecare team is here to protect the eye health of the whole family. Contact us today or visit our optometrist in Kempsey.