Do you also see things up close that are blurry? Let's talk about hyperopia!

Do you sometimes feel like the text in a book or a message on your phone is blurry? Or does your little one seem lazy when it comes to reading books or drawing? One of the reasons for these things could be a condition called farsightedness. Today, we will talk about this simply and in a way that you can understand.

What is Hyperopia?

Simply put, farsightedness, or `(Hyperopia)`, is a condition in which our eyes have difficulty seeing things that are close to us clearly. Things that are far away can sometimes be seen clearly, but the problem arises when looking at something that is close. Like when you try to read a book, thread a needle, or look at a small item in your food, the letters and objects appear blurry. Some people also call this `(Farsightedness)`.

What could be the symptoms of this?

Now let's see what kind of difficulties and symptoms a person with this shortsightedness may experience. These may not be the same for everyone. Some feel it a lot, some less.

If the little ones have...

Especially if a young child has this condition, they may experience things like:

• Blurred vision: Especially when doing close work or looking at a book, the text seems unclear.
• Eyestrain: When you work at close range for a long time, your eyes hurt and you may feel tired.
• Headaches: Frequent headaches, especially after schoolwork or reading.
• Tiredness: You may feel tired more quickly than usual because your eyes are straining to see clearly.

There could be more things like this...

Some other children, and sometimes older ones, may do things like this:

• Squint: Squints the eyes in an attempt to see clearly.
• Constantly rubbing eyes: Due to eye discomfort.
• Lack of interest in reading: Because reading is difficult, they may not like it. They may not even look at books. Just think, if they don't like reading at a young age, it can also affect their child's education, right?

Why is this happening? What are the reasons?

Okay, now let's look at why this farsightedness occurs. This is a bit of a scientific matter, but I'll explain it simply.

What happens inside the eye is simply...

Think of our eyes as little cameras. When we look at something, the light from that object enters our eyes and has to be focused on a screen at the back of the eye called the retina . Only then can we see it clearly.

In farsightedness, this light does not focus exactly on the retina, but rather slightly behind it. It's like a camera that's out of focus.

There can be two main reasons for this:

• Eyeball is shorter than normal: Some people's eyeballs may be slightly shorter than normal. This causes light to pass behind the retina before it can reach it.
• Decreased curvature of the cornea or lens: The main parts of our eye that bend and refract light as it enters it are the cornea (the transparent part at the front of the eye) and the lens. If the curvature of these parts decreases, light can pass through the retina without being bent as much as it should and focus.

Is it something that comes from the family?

Yes, this condition called farsightedness can also affect families . That means if your mother, father, or someone else in your family has this condition, there is a chance that you and your children will also have it. It is said to be related to something genetic.

Is it the same for everyone? More for the little ones?

Not everyone has the same degree of farsightedness. Some people may have it very slightly , and it may not bother them much. Others may have it moderately or severely , making it very difficult to see up close.

Often, young children are born with a certain amount of farsightedness. But their eyes have an amazing ability to adjust to this. That is, the lens in their eyes can change its shape and focus light exactly on the retina. We call this 'accommodation' . Therefore, a small amount of farsightedness in childhood may go unnoticed by the child, or it may correct itself as the eyeball stretches a little as the child grows.

However, if this farsightedness is excessive, or if the child's eyes are unable to accommodate properly, then the aforementioned symptoms will begin to appear. It is at such times that it is important to seek medical advice.

How do I find this? Do I need to see a doctor?

If you or your child has any of the symptoms mentioned above, it's best to get an eye exam. This isn't just like going to a glasses store, you need to see an ophthalmologist or optometrist for a proper eye exam.

Eye exams are especially important for children, as they may not be able to articulate their discomfort. Having your child's eyes checked before they start school, and at regular intervals throughout their school years, can help detect any problems early.

During the exam, the doctor will use various methods to check your eyesight and your ability to focus. For young children, the test is sometimes performed by putting eye drops in the eyes, dilating the pupil, and temporarily stopping the process of accommodation. This is when the exact amount of farsightedness can be determined.

Is there treatment? What can be done?

Fortunately, there are effective treatments for farsightedness. Treatment depends on factors such as your age, the degree of farsightedness, and your lifestyle.

Glasses and contact lenses

For many people, especially children, the main and simplest treatment for this is to use glasses . The convex lenses in the glasses work by bringing together (converging) some of the light rays entering the eye and focusing them precisely on the retina. Then, objects that are close up can be seen clearly.

Older people who don't like wearing glasses can also use contact lenses . These can be worn directly on the eye, so they don't look out of place like glasses. However, you need to be very careful about cleanliness when using contact lenses, otherwise your eyes can get infections. Also, you need to learn how to put them in, take them out, and clean them properly.

When giving glasses to a child, it is important for parents to check whether they are using them properly and whether they are comfortable with them. Some children may be reluctant to wear glasses at first, but they should be lovingly explained the importance of it.

Refractive Surgery for Adults?

After the age of 18, when vision changes have stabilized, some adults can undergo refractive surgery to get rid of glasses or contact lenses. One of the most popular of these is `LASIK` surgery . This surgery uses laser beams to change the shape of the cornea in front of the eye, allowing light to focus properly. However, this surgery is not suitable for everyone. The decision as to whether or not you are suitable for it is made after a thorough examination by an ophthalmologist.

What happens if left untreated?

Farsightedness, especially in children, can lead to some complications if not treated properly, so it's good to be aware of this as well.

The two main problems are:

• Amblyopia: When one eye is more farsighted, or when only one eye has a significant degree of vision loss, the brain prioritizes the better-seeing eye. The other eye then becomes 'lazy', meaning the brain ignores the visual information from that eye. If this is not recognized and treated early, usually before the age of 7-8, the vision in that eye can become permanently impaired. Even with glasses, it is possible to lose vision in that eye later on.
• Strabismus / Crossed Eyes: When the eyes are straining to focus on near objects due to farsightedness, sometimes the muscles in the eyes become uncoordinated, causing one eye to turn in or out. This is called strabismus. This can not only affect your vision, but can also cause double vision and amblyopia.

So, if your child is reluctant to look at you, is squinting, complains of frequent headaches, or seems to have a slight droop in one eye, don't waste any time and see an ophthalmologist right away. Prompt treatment can go a long way in preventing these complications.

The most important thing - remember! (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so I hope you have a good understanding of what we have discussed today about hyperopia. Here are some important things to remember:

• Farsightedness is a condition in which it is difficult to see things that are close by clearly.
• Be aware of symptoms such as headaches, eye strain, blurred vision, reluctance to read, and eye rubbing .
• Always pay attention to the eye health of your children, especially. Good eyesight is very important for their education and future.
• If in doubt, definitely see an ophthalmologist or optometrist to have your eyes checked. Don't self-medicate or just go to an eyeglass store to get glasses.
• There are simple and effective treatments for farsightedness, such as glasses and contact lenses. If necessary, adults can also resort to things like surgery.
• If left untreated, serious conditions such as 'lazy eye' (`Amblyopia`) or 'crossed eyes' (`Strabismus`) can develop, especially in children.

So, it is your responsibility to protect your eyes and the eyes of your children. I hope this information is useful to you! If you have any questions, don't be shy and ask a doctor.

Hyperopia, Farsightedness, vision problem, eyeglasses, contact lenses, children's vision, Retina, Amblyopia, Strabismus