Hyperopia
Hyperopia (farsightedness) is complex to understand because in people under the age of 40, there is a compensatory mechanism to help bring images into focus. A patient may have no symptoms, or just complain of eye strain or headaches while reading. Light rays that reach the macula converge at a point behind the retina. The light bending property of the eye is too weak, either the corneal surface is to flat or the actual length of the eyeball is too short. Depending on the degree of hyperopia , patients need either contact lenses or glasses with convex power to aid in the convergence of light. This pulls the focus of light onto the retina. In low or moderate levels of hyperopia, the crystalline lens can change its shape to add more plus power to the eye. The change of shape and power of the crystalline lens is referred to as accommodation. In high levels of hyperopia, accommodation cannot add enough power to compensate, thus glasses of other forms of correction are needed. A complete eye exam will determine your true level of farsightedness.
