Jules Stein Eye Institute
UCLA Laser Refractive Center
100 Stein Plaza
Los Angeles, California 90095
(310) 825-2737
(310) UC LASER lrc@jsei.ucla.edu
Hyperopia
Light focuses behind the retina in the hyperopic eye
Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is a condition in which a person can see distant objects more clearly than near objects. Hyperopia usually occurs when an eyeball is smaller than normal. When an eyeball is small, light rays from near objects do not focus properly on the retina at the back of the eye. The result is blurred vision. Hyperopia may be inherited. Babies and young children tend to be slightly hyperopic. As the eye grows and becomes longer, hyperopia lessens. Presbyopia, a condition with similar symptoms, has an entirely different cause that is related to aging.
