What does hypermetropia mean?
Hypermetropia is a refractive error affecting the way the eye focuses light. A person with the condition generally sees distant objects more clearly than nearby ones, because the eye is too short or its lens does not focus strongly enough. The result can be blurred vision when reading, viewing small print, or examining objects at close range, although the severity varies. Hypermetropia is also known as farsightedness, long-sightedness, or hyperopia, and is often corrected with convex lenses in glasses or contact lenses. It should not be confused with presbyopia, the gradual age-related reduction in near-focusing ability that affects everyone as the eye changes. The word is especially common in British medical usage, while farsightedness and hyperopia are broadly familiar in general English. Although the condition can occur in childhood, many people discover it when reading becomes uncomfortable or when an eye examination reveals that their vision differs between near and distant objects.
nounA refractive error of the eye in which nearby objects are seen less clearly than distant objects, commonly because the eyeball is too short or the lens has insufficient focusing power. It is also called farsightedness or long-sightedness and is often corrected with convex lenses.
- A refractive error in which distant objects are seen more clearly than nearby objects, due to insufficient focusing power or an eyeball that is too short.
"The optician diagnosed mild hypermetropia and prescribed reading glasses."
"Children with hypermetropia may have difficulty reading from a textbook."
"His hypermetropia was mild enough that he preferred contact lenses to glasses."
The plural is uncommon in ordinary use but follows the standard regular English plural formation.
"The clinic has developed treatment plans for several forms of hypermetropias."
Hypermetropia is the eye condition behind the familiar need to hold a book farther away: its name literally points to vision extending beyond the near range.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hypermetropia come from?
The word was formed in the early 19th century from Greek hyper-, meaning “over” or “beyond,” and metropia, based on metron, meaning “measure.” The latter is related to metre and other words concerned with measurement. The name reflects the condition's tendency to make vision extend beyond the near range, although in modern usage it is also associated with the eye's focusing geometry.
Related word forms
How hypermetropia is actually used
The term is chiefly used in medical and optometric contexts. In everyday English, “farsightedness” and “long-sightedness” are more familiar, while “hyperopia” is common in US usage.
Easily confused with hypermetropia
Hypermetropia is a refractive error that may be present from childhood or arise because the eye's focusing system is too weak, whereas presbyopia is the age-related loss of near-focusing ability.
Hyperopia and hypermetropia are two names for the same condition, with hypermetropia being especially common in British medical usage.