Does your child constantly seem to be below grade level in reading? Do they frequently complain about headaches and tired or sore eyes after close-up activities like writing or working on a computer? They may have hyperopia, also known as farsightedness. If it goes undiagnosed, hyperopia can significantly harm a child's school performance and reduce their quality of life.

What Is Hyperopia and What Causes It?

Hyperopia is a common condition that affects people of all ages. In a healthy eye, light enters through the lens and pupil and is focused on the retina at the back of the eye. With hyperopia, the eye is shaped differently, causing light to focus too far back, beyond the retina. This results in near objects appearing blurry while farther-away objects appear clearer.

Hyperopia occurs when the cornea is less curved than normal, the eyeball is shorter than normal, or the lens is thinner than normal. It is largely inherited but can also be caused by developmental issues before birth or in early childhood.

Symptoms of Hyperopia in Children

Often, hyperopia goes undetected in children because they are very good at focusing their eyes to compensate for their farsightedness, sometimes without even realizing it. Even so, hyperopia can still cause eye strain, fatigue, and headaches after activities like reading, writing, or using a computer.

Signs that may signal your child is farsighted include:

• Holding books, phones, or tablets at arm's length
• Difficulties with reading, learning, or paying attention
• Constant need to squint to keep images in focus close up
• Regular complaints that images appear blurry at close distance
• Headaches or fatigue after near vision activities

Diagnosis and Treatment of Hyperopia

Though hyperopia can't be prevented altogether, regular eye exams can help diagnose it early. The most popular treatment options include:

• Eyeglasses — The most common treatment for hyperopia in children. The child's level of hyperopia will determine how often and for how long they need to wear their glasses each day.
• Bifocal/Multifocal Glasses — Usually reserved for adults with presbyopia, these may also be helpful for children with difficulties with visual focusing due to severe hyperopia.
• Contact Lenses — Usually reserved for older children who can take responsibility for the proper care of their lenses.

Want to learn more about hyperopia and how we can help treat it? Contact our eye doctors at Dayton Optometric Center in Kettering, Ohio today. Call (937) 228-2020.