Hyperopia/Hypermetropia commonly referred to as “long-sightedness”, describes when your vision is easier to focus on at distance than near. Symptoms include eyestrain, tired eyes, frontal headaches, difficulty focussing on computers or when reading for extended periods. Distance vision may also be affected if there are high amounts of hyperopia, as we get older or intermittently after periods of reading or computer work. 

A typical young eye can focus in the distance without any focus effort and see clearly. When an eye is longsighted, focus effort is needed at all distances. Overall, a hyperopic eye has to work harder than a normal eye to maintain clear and comfortable vision.  

Hyperopia is most often caused by light rays being focussed behind the retina due to a shorter eyeball or a reduced power of the eye. 

Hyperopia is easily corrected with glasses and contact lenses. Refractive surgery is also an option for some amounts of hyperopia. Correcting hyperopia with glasses or contact lenses allows you to see more clearly and comfortably, improving visual efficiency, reducing fatigue effects, and optimising visual performance. Later in life, a person with hyperopia will also need spectacles to give clear and comfortable distance vision.