About long-sightedness or hyperopia
If you’re long-sighted, nearby objects look blurry. For some long-sighted people, objects in the distance look blurry too.
Long-sightedness is one of the most common eyesight problems in children.
Often, children’s long-sightedness improves over time. This can mean that some children are less long-sighted in the pre-teen and early teenage years than they were in early childhood.
Long-sightedness is also called hypermetropia or hyperopia.
Causes of long-sightedness or hyperopia
Long-sightedness happens when light entering the eye focuses behind the retina instead of on the retina. This might be because the eye doesn’t have enough power to focus properly or because the eyeball is shorter than usual.
Symptoms of long-sightedness or hyperopia
Depending on how old your child is, the symptoms of long-sightedness can vary.
If your child is younger, you might notice that your child squints or blinks when looking at close things, or your child rubs their eyes a lot. Young children often don’t realise they have poor vision, so your child might not say they can’t see well.
If your child is older, they might tell you that they can see things in the distance more easily than close things, or they might need to strain their eyes to see close things clearly. Your child might also complain of sore eyes, headache or fatigue.
Also, your child might not be interested in reading because of the eye strain it causes, and you might notice issues with their schoolwork.
Long-sighted children might also have a squint. This is when the eyes seem to be looking in different directions.
All children should have an eye test before they start preschool, when they’re 3½-5 years old. Most states and territories run free vision screening programs through local child and family health services or schools. Check with your child and family health nurse, kindergarten, child care centre or school about what’s offered in your area.
Medical help: when to get it for children and teenagers with long-sightedness or hyperopia
If you think your child is long-sighted, see an eye specialist like an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.
You’ll need a referral from your GP or optometrist to see an ophthalmologist.
Tests for long-sightedness or hyperopia
If your child is referred to an optometrist or ophthalmologist to test for long-sightedness, this professional will carefully examine your child’s eyes and vision to diagnose long-sightedness.
Long-sightedness diagnosis involves various tests and tools. For example, the optometrist or ophthalmologist:
- will check your child’s vision using an eye chart that has letters or symbols on it
- might use medicine like eye drops to look into the back of your child’s eyes
- might use equipment like a retinoscope.
These checks can help the optometrist or ophthalmologist work out what if any treatment your child needs for their long-sightedness.
Treatment for long-sightedness or hyperopia
Children with mild long-sightedness might not need treatment because their eyes will naturally adjust to see clearly.
Children with more severe long-sightedness might need glasses. If your child is younger or also has a squint, they’ll need to use glasses all the time. If your child is older, they might need to use glasses only for close activities like reading or schoolwork.
Contact lenses might be an option for older children or teenagers.