Farsightedness is a condition with strong genetic links. This means, if several close relatives are farsighted, you should keep an eye out for symptoms of hyperopia, including the following:
- Blurry vision when viewing nearby objects
- Frequent squinting
- Eyestrain, which may cause burning eyes or aching around the eyes
- Headaches you experience after doing close tasks
If you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms, you should see your eye doctor at a local vision therapy clinic.
How Farsightedness Is Diagnosed
Your eye doctor will conduct a refraction assessment and an eye health exam. During a refraction assessment, you will be asked to look through a phoropter (which looks like a mask with several wheels) to determine which lenses can help you see clearly. And, during the eye health exam, your eye doctor will use eye drops to dilate your pupils (which would make them more sensitive to light). This allows doctors to fully examine your eyes’ optic nerve and retina.
Do Presbyopia and Hyperopia Mean the Same Thing?
Both conditions both affect the eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects. However, there’s a key difference between the two: hyperopia is a condition someone is born with (and is related to their cornea being too flat) while presbyopia gradually affects a patient’s vision (usually starting in the person’s early 40s). That’s why it’s important to have your eyes checked at least once every year.
Tips on Taking Care of Your Eyesight
- Know your family medical history – Certain conditions like hyperopia have strong genetic links. That’s why it’s important to know family medical history, which can give you an idea of your risk for certain conditions.
- Observe the 20-20-20 rule – A common vision myth is that too much screen time can cause hyperopia, which as mentioned earlier has strong genetic links. However, excessive screen time can cause eye strain. To reduce eye strain, every 20 minutes, look at an object about 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds.
Insight Vision Center Optometry offers a wide range of professional eye care services, including prescription scleral lenses. To schedule an appointment, call us at (714) 486-3315, or fill out this form. We serve homeowners in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach as well as the surrounding communities.
