What is hypermetropia?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Hypermetropia, also known as farsightedness, is a common refractive error of the eye. It occurs when the light entering the eye is focused behind the retina instead of directly on it. This can happen if the eyeball is too short or if the cornea has too little curvature. As a result, nearby objects appear blurry while distant objects can be seen clearly.
The condition is primarily due to the eye’s inability to properly bend or refract light entering it. In a normal eye, light rays from an object are focused directly on the retina. However, in a hypermetropic eye, the focus point falls behind the retina. This makes it difficult for the eye to clearly see close objects without additional effort.
Symptoms of hypermetropia include blurred vision when reading or looking at objects up close, eye strain, headaches, and difficulty with tasks that require seeing things at close range, such as reading or using a computer. In children, hypermetropia can cause issues with learning due to difficulty reading and focusing on nearby objects. Adults might also experience eye strain, especially when engaging in tasks requiring close-up focus.
The condition can be diagnosed during a routine eye exam where an optometrist or ophthalmologist uses various tests to assess how light is refracted in the eye. Treatment usually involves corrective lenses, either in the form of eyeglasses or contact lenses, that help focus the light correctly onto the retina. In some cases, refractive surgery, like LASIK, might be considered as a long-term solution to reshape the cornea and correct the refractive error.
If left untreated, hypermetropia can cause discomfort, and over time, it may lead to worsening vision issues. Regular eye exams are important to catch and manage hypermetropia early.