Eye Exercises for Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

What is Farsightedness (Hyperopia)?

Farsightedness (Hyperopia), sometimes referred to as long-sightedness, is a vision problem where the eye is unable to properly focus close objects on the retina. This condition can occur naturally, but it can also be acquired due to ageing, increased axial length of the eyes, or damage to the lens or cornea. 

People with farsightedness may experience difficulty focusing on things up close, such as reading and writing. Some people with it may have good distance vision, while others might have a combination of near and far vision problems. Farsightedness can often be treated with glasses or contact lenses and/or even corrective surgery.

Signs and symptoms of hyperopia

Common signs and symptoms of hyperopia include:

• Blurred vision when looking at objects up close, such as books and computers.
• Eyestrain or headaches after prolonged close-up work.
• Squinting to see items that are near.
• Poor performance on near vision tasks (e.g. reading).
• Difficulty in following a moving object, such as a tennis ball bouncing down the street.
• Seeing double images of a single object.
• Visual fatigue or eye discomfort in bright light.
• Redness and irritation of the eyes with prolonged use.

If your child is showing any of these symptoms, it is important to evaluate them by an ophthalmologist to determine if they have hyperopia.

Possible complications of Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

Farsightedness (Hyperopia) can lead to a number of vision problems, some of which may be sight-threatening. These complications include: 

• Unstable vision: Farsighted individuals often experience blurred or fluctuating vision, which can make activities like driving and reading difficult. 
• Eye strain: Concentrating on near objects can lead to eye strain due to the extra effort your eyes must make in order to focus. This can cause pain and headaches, as well as fatigue and dizziness. 
• Lazy eye (amblyopia): If left untreated, farsightedness can lead to poor vision in one or both eyes, due to the unequal use of the eyes for distance viewing tasks like driving or watching television. This is known as lazy eye (amblyopia). 
• Strabismus: Strabismus is a condition where your eyes are misaligned and do not appear to be looking in the same direction at the same time. When this occurs because one eye is more farsighted than the other, it is known as unequal refractive strabismus and it may cause double vision or difficulty focusing on near objects with both eyes together.

Eye Exercises for Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

Many people with farsightedness have a hard time concentrating on objects at close range. Fortunately, there are eye exercises that can help improve vision for those who suffer from farsightedness. 

Below are five examples of useful eye exercises for those who suffer from farsightedness: 

• Blinking Exercise: Rapidly blink the eyes multiple times, focusing on the relaxation of the eyelids and the sensation of lightheadedness that comes with it. 
• Shift Focus Exercise: Look straight ahead and then quickly shift focus between two distant objects multiple times. Make sure to blink in between focuses so that you do not strain your eyes from focusing too hard and too often on one object. 
• Near-Distance Targeting Exercise: Find an object at near distance and focus on it for about 20 seconds before shifting focus to an object further away for another 20 seconds, repeating this process several times without straining your eyes too much throughout the exercise. 
• Eye Movement Exercise: Pick three different targets in your line of sight—one close-up, one mid-distance, and one far away—and rapidly move your eyes back and forth between them while also envisioning two diagonal lines connecting each target to form an “X” shape (in other words move your eyes like you’re tracing out a shape similar to an X). Also remember to take several deep breaths throughout this exercise in order to relax any tension or strain you may feel during this exercise session. 
• Double Vision Exercises: Choose an object either far away or near distance and practice focusing both eyes opposing directions while trying not to change the focus of either eye individually; take breaks in order to prevent any potential strain caused by attempting this exercise excessively several times in a row without taking breaks during each session lasting no more than 5 minutes since looking opposite directions can be very difficult at first but gets easier over time as you practice more often with plenty of breaks taken in between sessions when possible/necessary.

Surgical treatments for Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

• Laser Vision Correction: This is a non-invasive procedure where an ophthalmologist will use a laser to reshape the cornea to reduce their farsightedness. The procedure takes less than 20 minutes and most insurance plans cover it. The results are permanent, but side effects like eye dryness, blurred vision, and night glare are possible. 
• Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE): RLE is a surgical procedure where the natural lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). It’s used to treat people with moderate to severe levels of farsightedness who may not be good candidates for other treatments such as laser eye surgery or contacts. 
• Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL): ICL involves implanting specialized contact lenses into the eyes through small incisions in order to correct your vision without permanently changing the shape of the eye or affecting your ability to see at night or close up. Although there are side effects like temporary blurriness, infection risk, and discomfort in bright light that should be taken into consideration before having this type of surgery done, it’s generally considered safe and effective for correcting farsightedness more quickly compared to other methods of treatment such as glasses or contacts. 
• Glasses & Contact Lenses: These are arguably the most common ways to effectively treat farsightedness without undergoing any type of invasive procedure whatsoever. Glasses typically have single-vision lenses that help focus light directly onto the retina while correcting nearsightedness simultaneously; meanwhile contacts typically replace glass altogether by being placed directly on top of your eyes to correct nearsightedness or astigmatism only when worn properly according to their prescriptions from eye care professionals.

Best doctors to consult for Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

• Optometrist: An optometrist is the best doctor to consult for farsightedness (hyperopia). Optometrists specialize in diagnosing and treating vision conditions, including hyperopia. They will be able to perform comprehensive eye exams and develop treatment plans that best suit your needs. 
• Ophthalmologists: Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye care, so they are also qualified to diagnose and treat farsightedness. They can also recommend corrective lenses or surgical procedures if needed. 
• Opticians: Eye care professionals such as opticians can help fit you with the right frames and lenses to suit your prescription and lifestyle. They can provide advice on selecting frames and lenses that optimize your vision while keeping features such as slender, fashionable designs in mind. 
• Orthoptists: Orthoptists are health professionals trained in the assessment and management of ocular motility (eye movement) problems, along with other visual issues such as strabismus (lazy eye) or convergence insufficiency (eye cross). As such, they may be consulted by optometrists or ophthalmologists when specialised assessments or treatments of these certain issues are required by the patient with farsightedness.