Hypermetropia, also known as farsightedness or long-sightedness, is a refractive disorder affectingmillions of kids and youngsters worldwide. If left untreated, this condition can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye),strabismus (crossed eyes), and other Eye Diseases in Children that can significantly impact your child’s life quality. The prevalence of Hypermetropia eye disease is mainly due to various factors such as increased near work (reading, screen time), genetic predisposition, premature birth, and other medical conditions.
To prevent long-term consequences of this disease, it must be detected at early stages. Early detection leads to timely intervention and prompt treatment. However, this is all possible only when you have adequate knowledge about hypermetropia and its causes.
Understanding the Condition
It refers to a refractive error where close objects appear blurry while distant objects remain clear. It occurs due to structural defects in the eye such as the eyeball being shorter than normal or the cornea being too flat causing the light to be focused behind the retina instead of falling directly on it.
Risk factors of this condition include small eye syndrome, diabetes, and certain medications.
Types of Hypermetropia eye disease:
Primarily there are two types of farsightedness:
- Physiological Hypermetropia: Age-related condition common in children, it may be structural or functional.
- Structural hypermetropia: It occurs due to structural defects such as smaller eyeballs or non-circular lenses.
- Functional hypermetropia: It occurs due to paralysis of accommodation.
- Pathological Hypermetropia: This is a more severe, abnormal condition. It takes corrective measures to fix this error.
Common Symptoms of Hypermetropia:
Recognizing the symptoms of this dangerous eye disease is a crucial step toward effective management and prevention of further complications. Here are a few common symptoms that may help you identify hypermetropia at early stages:
1. Blurry near vision: A person suffering from this eye disease may face difficulty reading, writing, or performing daily tasks.
2. Eye strain: Continuous eye strain leading to Headaches, fatigue, or discomfort from prolonged focusing may be a sign of hypermetropia eye disease.
3. Difficulty with fine details: You may face trouble with crafts, puzzles, or other activities that require precision and attention to detail.
4. Squinting: Needing to squint to see clearly, is a big sign of farsightedness.
5. Eye fatigue: Feeling tired or uncomfortable after prolonged near work.
If you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms visit an expert ophthalmologist immediately.
How Hypermetropia Affects Vision
It affects vision in several ways:
- Blurry near vision: Farsightedness affects the ability to perform daily tasks such as reading and writing.
- Eye strain: It is also characterised by frequent headaches, fatigue, or discomfort from prolonged focusing.
- Difficulty with fine details: A person suffering from hypermetropia may also face trouble with crafts, puzzles, or other activities that require precision.
Hypermetropia in children can affect their lives in various ways such as;
- Delay learning.
- Affect social interactions.
- Increase the risk of lazy eye or amblyopia.
Causes and Risk Factors of Hypermetropia
Causes and risk factors of hypermetropia may include:
- Family History: Hypermetropia running in the family increases your chances of getting it.
- Ethnicity: Certain ethnic groups e.g., Asian, are more prone to hypermetropia.
- Extended Near Work: Prolonged reading, writing from too close to the notebook, or excess screen time.
- Lack of outdoor activities and insufficient exposure to normal light.
- Poor eye care habits such as lack of eye rest or improper lighting.
- Certain medical conditions such as premature birth, diabetes, hypertension, and other systemic diseases also increase the risk of hypermetropia.
Other Risk Factors:
- Age: Hypermetropia is common among children and youngsters however its chances increase with age, especially when the symptoms are present.
- Nutritional deficiency: Inadequate omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and other essential nutrients lead to various eye problems including farsightedness.
Solutions to Prevent Hypermetropia:
Although far-sightedness cannot be prevented, there are some lifestyle and home remedies that you can follow to protect your eyes.
- Regular checkup: Eye exams are crucial even if you see no visible symptoms. Regular exams help monitor prevalence of the hypermetropia as well as the effectiveness of the treatment.
- Stay healthy: certain medical conditions such as chronic diabetes or high blood pressure can affect vision.
- Take a healthy diet: Fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens benefit the eyes and protect them from long-term damage.
- Sun protection: Protect your eyes from the sun e.g. wear sunglasses to block ultraviolet rays.
- Quit smoking: smoking is not only injurious to health but also bad for eyesight.
- Appropriate lighting: news of appropriate lighting in your room and workplace.
- Prevent eye injuries: Wear protective eyewear when doing certain tasks to protect your eyes from injuries or toxic chemicals.
- Take regular breaks: When performing near-task work or working on the computer, look away every 20 minutes for 20 seconds aiming at something 20 feet away.
- Correct prescription: Get regular eye exams to get the lenses optimised for your vision.
Hypermetropia’s Treatment:
Hypermetropia eye disease is a common vision condition which has various treatment options available, including:
Non-Surgical Solutions to Prevent Hypermetropia:
- Glasses or Contact Lenses:
Corrective lenses are used to refract light properties allowing patients to see near objects. These come in various materials (such as glass plastic and polycarbonate) and coatings (anti-reflective, scratch-resistant). Contact lenses also come in different types and are easily disposable.
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K):
It is effective for mild to moderate hypermetropia. It involves temporary corneal reshaping with specialised contact lenses while sleeping.
Surgical treatment options:
1. LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis):
- By creating a thin flap in the eye and reshaping the underlying tissues.
- Quick recovery
- Minimal pain
2. PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy):
- Laser is used to correct the corneal surface.
- No flap creation
- Longer recovery time
3. LASEK (Laser-Assisted Subepithelial Keratomileusis):
- A combination of LASIK and PRK
- Thin flap creation followed by laser reshaping
- Less invasive than LASIK
4. Implantable Lenses (IOLs):
- Artificial lenses are inserted inside the eye
- Have various types such as monofocal, multifocal, accommodating
- Suitable for severe hypermetropia or when laser surgery is not possible.
5. Conductive Keratoplasty (CK):
- This method is effective for mild to moderate hypermetropia
- Radio-frequency energy to reshape the cornea
- Minimally invasive
Consult an eye specialist to determine which treatment option is best for you based on your specific conditions, age, and lifestyle.
Conclusion:
Hypermetropia is a common refractive disorder that requires early detection and timely intervention to prevent further damage. Join hands with EDO Eye Hospital in the fight against hypermetropia eye disease in kids and youngsters to secure their future. Our motto is to make the best eye care accessible for everyone. This is why we offer free treatment and test facilities for deserving patients.
Our well-trained staff and expert doctors are working day and night to make the future free from the burdens of eye diseases. Together we can beat eye disorders and take a step towards a healthier brighter future.