What is Hypermetropia? Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Hypermetropia (farsightedness) is a vision defect caused by focusing images behind the retina rather than on the retina. People with this defect can see distant objects clearly, but nearby objects are blurred. Hypermetropia is considered one of the causes of strabismus.

What is the cause of hypermetropia?

In hypermetropia, the back or front of the eye is shorter than normal (opposite in myopia) and the surface of the cornea does not refract enough light, so incoming rays are concentrated behind the retina. Because of this, the image is blurred. Although hypermetropia is popularly known as "nearsightedness", people with this eye defect cannot see both near and far.

What Are the Symptoms of Hypermetropia?

Hypermetropia can be detected due to its initial appearance and different complaints during eye examinations. The higher its rate, the more severe the symptoms can be.

● Having to squint for a perfectly clear image

● Burning, redness, pain in the eyes

● Eye strain

● Lazy eye

● Redness around the edges of the eyelid

● Difficulty concentrating

● Blurred vision at night

● Blurred vision of nearby objects

If hypermetropia is not treated or treated late, some complications can occur. Especially in children, the development of strabismus can be observed, and in adults, eye fatigue can be observed.

How do hypermetropes see?

These people notice that letters and symbols blend together when reading from a book or at a close distance.

What Are the Degrees of Hyperopia?

Hyperopia is divided into three types according to degrees;

Mild (simple) hypermetropia: less than 2 degrees

Moderate hypermetropia: between 2 and 5 degrees

High hypermetropia: above 5 degrees

What should be done to prevent hypermetropia?

Farsightedness is not something you can prevent, but there are steps you can take to protect your eyes. You should have regular eye exams to detect problems early.

Eating right: Nutrients such as vitamin A, C, E help to protect vision. To get these benefits, you can include lots of fruits (such as grapefruit and strawberries) and vegetables in your diet.

Regular eye exams: A doctor can detect eye problems before symptoms appear.

Wearing sunglasses even on cloudy days: Choose sunglasses that block 99% or more of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Rest the eyes regularly: Staring at the screen for hours can tire your eyes. Taking a break for 20 seconds every 20 minutes and looking 20 meters away will prevent eye strain.

Whether you have eye pain or not, if you experience symptoms such as sudden loss of vision, foggy and blurred vision, double vision, or black dots, be sure to see your doctor and get an eye exam. Do not neglect your eye health.

How Is Hypermetropia Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of hypermetropia is made as a result of eye examination, vision test and various measurements made by an ophthalmologist. During these measurements, other refractive errors such as myopia and astigmatism can also be measured.

If there are signs, degrees are determined for each eye with the help of a refractometer. In some patients, retinoscopy measurements can also be done.

During these measurements, a harmless light is caught on the eye and it is determined how and to what extent this light is reflected from the retina. With this examination, light reflection is measured to determine whether a diagnosis of nearsightedness can be made.

How is hypermetropia treated?

Hypermetropes without complaints or symptoms can only be monitored. Hypermetropia, which causes a significant complaint, is treated. However, sometimes complete and sometimes only partial corrections can be made to relieve complaints or symptoms.

If hypermetropia has been diagnosed by an ophthalmologist, there are several treatment options. The goal of the treatment is to ensure that the light falls on the right spot on the retina.

During treatment, glasses, contact lenses or surgical methods are recommended depending on the situation. The most commonly used method of treatment is glasses. Eyeglasses are preferred because they are both affordable and maintenance-free. However, if the degree of hypermetropia is high, the glasses may become thicker. This may cause the image quality to deteriorate.

In addition to glasses, contact lens treatment is also performed. What should be taken into account here is to follow the rules of care, that is, the rules of hygiene. Many people ask whether contact lenses or glasses are better. Both have their advantages. The need for eye contact with glasses is reduced, thus preventing eye infections. If you have dry eyes or sensitive eyes, there will be no discomfort as with contact lenses. Glasses lens